Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested 17 suspects and impounded three trucks with 39 motor bikes used for illegal mining in Kogi state.
NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, CSC Afolabi Babawale disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said the illegal mining syndicate operated in the Odiagbo – Okaba district of Ankpa local government area of Kogi State.
Babawale said the latest crackdown, led by the Assistant Commandant of Corps John Attah, was in collaboration with the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, headed by Dr. Dele Alake.
He said the raid was as a result of complaints from local residents over environmental degradation and public health threats allegedly linked to the illegal and unregulated mining activities.
Babawale described the synergy between the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and Ministry of Interior on the activities of illegal miners as solid, providing the needed impetus to the NSCDC to disrupt and terminate the activities of solid minerals thieves in the country.
“The Commandant General of the NSCDC Ahmed Abubakar Audi has continued to reiterate the readiness of the NSCDC to take the battle to all the criminal elements that are feeding fat on the critical national assets of the country.
“The recent massive clear out of the illegal miners is also coming on the hills of the Kogi State government’s push for cleaner mining sector and the need to preserve fragile ecosystem and protect host communities”, he added.
