The Edo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), has arrested 15 illegal gold mining suspects, following their mining activities in Egbetua Community, Ososo, Akoko-Edo local government area in the state.
The suspects were arrested by operatives of Auchi Area Command of the NSCDC, at Ode forest (site of the illegal gold mining) in Egbetua Monday night following a tip-off.
It was gathered that acting on a credible information, the officers of the NSCDC stormed the Ode forest and arrested 15 suspects.
Confirming the report, Edo State Commandant of the NCDSC, Gbenga Agun, said that it is the statutory responsibility of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to protect the people and solid minerals across the country.
“Yes it is true that the suspects were arrested in Edo North (Egbetua). It is our statutory responsibility to arrest and prosecute miners of any solid minerals that are illegal across the country”, Agun said
He warned other illegal miners in the state to desist from such acts, adding that the state command is poised to flush out illegal miners and other criminal elements in the state.
Recall that the illegal gold mining site was recently discovered in Egbetua community in Edo State as hundreds of illegal miners were seen carrying out mining activities.
Investigations revealed that the activities of the illegal gold miners which had been going on in Egbetua for over 25 years, has led to a growing socioeconomic and security challenges in the community.
These activities, the people claimed, had led to loss of ecosystem and increased insecurity and poverty level, especially among peasant farmers in Egbetua who depend solely on environmental resources for a living.
LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that the community in 2024 called on the state government to help halt the activities of illegal miners in the area.
Recall that the Edo State Government on May 5, 2024 gave the illegal miners a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the sites of the mining, which spread across the Egbetua land.
Over seven months after the expiration of the marching order by the state government to the miners, it was learnt that many of the suspects reportedly refused to vacate the sites, thereby causing concern for the people.
The development it was learned led to the arrest of the 15 mining suspects by the NSCDC.
