Illegal Mining: 7 Arrested From Gold Site In Kogi

Some persons involved in the illegal mining of gold in Yagba East local government area of Kogi State have been arrested by mining marshals deployed by the federal government.

The operation in Iyeh Odogbe, Isanlu community of Yagba East LGA involved dislodging illegal miners whose activities had prevented authorised miners with licences covering four cadastral units from accessing the site for 16 years.

According to the ministry, illegal activities had gone unhindered for over 20 years
The operation, led by commander, Mining Marshals, ACC Attah John Onoja, resulted in the arrest of seven suspects heading different groups of illegal miners in the area, a statement by special assistant to the minister of solid minerals, Segun Tomori,indicated.

“Following the successful operation, site workers were given five days to completely vacate the site as operations to effectively secure the area and ensure it is fully recovered for lawful mining activities will continue in earnest,” it said.

Recently, a similar operation was carried out by the mining marshals in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, leading to the arrest of eight Chinese nationals and a Nigerian.
The trial of the suspects commenced last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja division, and they were remanded in Kuje prisons until the adjourned date.

LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that ending the menace of illegal mining is one of the seven-point agenda of the minister towards sanitising the industry and making it a top income earner for Nigeria.

Since the coming on stream of the mining marshals in March this year, they have arrested more than 300 suspected illegal miners, many of whom are undergoing prosecution.