A total of 100 illegal miners suspected to have migrated from Sahel Savannah Region of Africa have been arrested by the Cross River State government for allegedly invading communities in Yakurr local government area.
Findings by LEADERSHIP Sunday revealed that the illegal miners were apprehended during a sting operation headed by the Cross River State Security Adviser, Maj. General Okoi Obono (rtd) yesterday.
The lanky, dark looking young men suspected to be non-Nigerians had stormed the Yakurr communities but were overpowered by security operatives who were assisted by some locals while trying to escape near Ugep community in Yakurr.
Ephraim Ofem, a resident who claimed to have been around at the time the suspects were arrested said they drove through the area from the northern part of the state and were bound for Calabar, the state capital.
“I think the young men apprehended by authority are between the age of 20 -27 years of age, were arrested with diggers, shovels, drilling machines and earth drilling machines.
“These people are not Nigerians even though some claimed to have come from Nigeria. These guys are suspected to have come from Chad, Niger and probably Sudan.
“They are sponsored by faceless individuals to invade our community. They are not only found here, I am told confidently that they are also in Akamkpa local government area around the National Park axis always armed with AK-47 riffles during mineral exploitation”.Ofem maintained.
Efforts to get the state security adviser, retired Major General Okoi Obono to speak on the issue failed as his telephone line was said to be unreachable.
Police spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo, said, “Yes, it’s true that the illegal miners had been arrested by the Cross River State government. They are going to be profiled and those without papers would be repatriated back to wherever they are coming from.”
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