Illegal Mining: One Year After, Mines Marshals Arrest 327, Recover 98 Sites

The mines marshals launched a year ago by the minister of solid minerals development, Dr Dele Alake, have arrested 327 persons, recovered 98 mining sites from illegal miners, and are currently prosecuting about 143 of them.

The Mining Marshals, a force specially created to secure the mining environment in the country, has also seen its staff strength grow from the initial 2,200 to 2.670.

In a press briefing Friday to mark one year of the launch of the marshals,  Minister Alake also revealed that the security outfit had identified 457 suspected illegal mining sites due to improved intelligence gathering, just as a number of the offenders had been convicted including foreign nationals.

He announced plans to increase the size and scope of the Marshals, with personnel from the police and military, as the need arises. Operating mainly in 10 states as yet, Alake said plans are afoot to have them in all parts of Nigeria before the end of the year.

He said the force’s operations would be boosted by technology tools such as drones and robots to track illegal miners more effectively.

Alake enthused that the launch of the Marshals had sent shivers down the spines of illegal operators, who now realized it was no longer business as usual.

According to him, an association of foreign businessmen with a reputation for infractions in the industry had recently visited his office to pledge their loyalty to the ongoing reforms, vowing to play by the rulebook henceforth.

He revealed that the Marshals had, in one of their operations, flushed out about 3,000 illegal gold miners in Jagula off Isanlu in Yagba East LGA of Kogi State. The North-South Extractive Industries Ltd. has been denied access to their site since 2016, when it obtained the Mining Lease 19325.

Alake listed other sites among the 98 the Marshals had recovered in one year in the FCT, Abia and Kogi States to name few.

Alake further noted that the force’s operations had boosted government earnings from the solid minerals sector in the period under review.

For all their achievements, the minister commended the marshals for serving with patriotic zeal in the face of pushbacks from affected quarters.

He said “I want to congratulate you for the very good work that you have done in this last one year. We are very impressed with your performance this year. And this gives us the confidence to believe that you are going to do more.

“The purpose of creating and establishing you last year has been displayed. You have succeeded in addressing several illegal offenders, growing into hundreds.

“You have succeeded in bringing some into the courts for prosecution, and in fact, ensuring conviction.

“Because you are one year today, starting another new year tomorrow. And I want to assure you that those things that you need, for efficiency of your operations, like logistic support, arms, money, everything, and all other things that you must need, we will provide for you. And that is to ensure that your job will be made easier.” he stated

Alake reserved special accolades for the commander of Mines Marshals, ACC Attah Onoja of the NSCDC, for his dedication and professionalism in making the project a success. He, however, urged the operatives to brace up for more challenges ahead in the battle against illegal operators in the industry.

Dr Alake also appreciated the contributions of the police, Army, Navy, Air Force, the EFCC in the battle against illegal operators.

On his part, ACC Onoja said the challenges faced by the operatives included dangerous terrain and security risks.

But he assured that the mining Marshals are committed 100 per cent to sanitising the sector.

“Since our launch, we have responded to numerous petitions from legitimate mineral title holders who have been unable to access their sites due to the activities of illegal miners and, in some cases, bandits.

“We observe strictly the provisions of the law. Our driving force is the commitment to safeguarding the sector. The words of encouragement from the Honourable Minister mean more to us than money. They have kept our morale high despite limited logistics,” he said

He commended the collaboration between the NSCDC and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, stress that the initiative aligns with the federal government’s economic agenda to reposition the mining sector as a viable alternative to oil revenue.

Responding to journalists’ questions, Alake reiterated that those involved in the nefarious activity of illegal mining include traditional rulers and big men across all sectors, including the military, politicians and the judiciary.

Apart from traditional rulers,   it is not known if any of such highly placed Nigerians are among those arrested or prosecuted so far by the government.