30 Illegal Miners Arrested In Niger

Following the ongoing fight against illegal mining in Niger State, 30 illegal mining suspects have been arrested in the state.

LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that the miners who had apparently encroached on the space of the newly established Abdulkadir University and the College of Education, Minna, were arrested over the week.

It was gathered that the miners, some foreigners, have refused to desist from the alleged nefarious activities despite moves by the school’s authority to make them stop.

It was learnt that they have created gullies in all the spaces behind the two schools, thereby making them vulnerable to erosion.

Given this development, it was learnt that the police raided the illegal mining sites and arrested the 30 suspects, even as dozens of them fled when the operation was ongoing.

Confirming this, the state command’s police public relations officer (PPRO) Wasiu Abiodun said that in the course of the operation, 69 shovels, 182 head pans, 33 diggers, 38 plastic containers, and one hoe used for excavation were recovered.

He said the suspects were investigated, minors and some women were screened, while 18 suspects would be charged in court for illegal mining activities.

He said the raid was in line with the commitment of the commissioner of police, Niger State Command CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, to reduce crime and sanitise Minna metropolis, as well as the crimes linked to the illegal miners.

The PPRO was, however, silent on whether the suspects were mostly foreigners, as alleged by sources in the schools.