Three Chinese arrested for illegal mining in Nasarawa

The Mining Marshal of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps conducted a major crackdown on illegal mining sites in Nasarawa State on Monday. In a bid to intensify efforts against economic sabotage, the operation resulted in the arrest of three Chinese nationals and two Nigerians.

Acting on credible intelligence, the Mining Marshals targeted an illegal mining site in the Rafin-Gabas area of the Agwada Area Council, Kokona LGA.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, emphasised a strong commitment to protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure and promoting sustainable mining practices.

Alake, in a statement by the Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, said: “The suspects were arrested for mining without lawful authorization. Some of the minerals being mined include fluorite, zinc, lead, and tin.

“The arrested suspects confessed to having been involved in activities at the site spanning five (5) cadastral units since December 15, 2021.

“The company defied all lawful advice regarding their activities and continued siphoning the nation’s resources, causing significant revenue losses to the federal government.”

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It will be recalled that the 2,570-strong Mining Marshals, an elite squad of specially trained officers drafted from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and conceptualised by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has been taking the battle to illegal miners, with over 200 arrests so far and about 140 undergoing prosecution across the country.

He explained that the federal government remains committed to sanitising the mining sector. “Hence, the operations of the Mining Marshals will be unrelenting until the mining environment is secure and safe for genuine investors.”