*The Federal Government of Nigeria charges suspected illegal miners arrested in Kogi and Ondo states during a recent illegal operation, led to court by Mining Marshals聽 as part of the ongoing efforts at sanitising the mining sector of the country鈥檚 economy

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The Federal Government has charged suspected illegal miners arrested in Kogi and Ondo states during a recent operation, led by the Mining Marshals to court.

The government noted the latest effort is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the mining sector of the Nigerian economy.

The operation, code-named “Operation Hayakin Kogo,” which was conducted in the Ikah Community of Ankpa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State, resulted in the arrest of two Chinese nationals and a Nigerian for mining illegal activities, violating extant mining regulations in the country.

Segun Tomori, FSCA, Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, who stated this Monday, September 2, 2024, also said the Mining Marshals raided an illegal gold mining site in the Ogunlepa, Oluwa Forest Reserve, Odigbo LGA of Ondo State, and arrested four suspects in the process.

The government said that the suspects, caught in the act of illegally mining gold in a Government Reserved Area (GRA), confessed during interrogation that they lacked the necessary licences or authorisation to carry out their operations.

The suspects from both Kogi and Ondo states have since been charged to the Federal High Court, Abuja, FCT, stated Tomori.

It is recalled that the 2, 570-strong Mining Marshals, specially trained and drawn from the ranks of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), is a brainchild of Dr. Oladele Alake, Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development, , as part of his 7-point agenda, hinged on sanitising and reforming the mining sector.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to eliminating illegal mining in the country by bolstering the operations of the Mining Marshals with the infusion of technology and imminent satellite monitoring of mining sites.

Alake also urged those still involved in illegal activities in the mining sector to turn a new leaf and comply with the relevant sections of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NNMA) to regularise their operations, stressing that the resolve of the Federal Government to wielding the big stick is unflinching.