In a bid to sanitise the mining sector, the Federal Government has taken legal action against suspected illegal miners arrested in Kogi and Ondo states during a recent crackdown led by mining marshals.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Hayakin Kogo,” was conducted in the Ikah community of Ankpa local government area (LGA) in Kogi State. The operation resulted in the arrest of two Chinese nationals and a Nigerian for engaging in mining activities that violated existing mining regulations.
In a similar effort, the mining marshals also targeted an illegal gold mining site in the Ogunlepa, Oluwa Forest Reserve, located in the Odigbo LGA of Ondo State. During this raid, four suspects were apprehended while actively mining gold within a government reserved area. The individuals confessed during interrogation that they lacked the necessary licenses or authorisation to conduct their mining operations.
Following their arrests, the suspects from both Kogi and Ondo states have been charged to the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they will face prosecution.
The mining marshals, a specialised force consisting of 2,570 personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), was established under the leadership of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake. This initiative is part of the minister’s seven-point agenda aimed at reforming and sanitising the mining sector.
According to a statement by the minister’s special assistant on media, Segun Tomori, the Federal Government is committed to eradicating illegal mining by enhancing the operations of the Mining Marshals. This includes the integration of technology and the imminent introduction of satellite monitoring of mining sites.
The minister also urged those involved in illegal mining activities to comply with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NNMA) and regularise their operations, stressing that the government’s resolve to enforce the law is unwavering.
