The federal government’s mine police, the Mining Marshals, have intensified their onslaught against illegal miners with a recent clearance exercise conducted by the Mining Marshals in Jaguna, off Iye/Odogbe communities in Yagba East Local Government Area, Kogi State.
The exercise was a follow-up on that of 15th July 2024, when Jaguna, an area surrounded by forest, was raided by the Mining Marshals, resulting in the arrest of seven suspected illegal gold miners.
Workers on-site were given a directive to vacate the area within five days.
However, LEADERSHIP learned that instead of complying with the directive, the illegal miners mobilised additional workers and fortified the site with armed protection. This led to the latest operation by the Mining Marshals to dislodge them.
A statement by the minister’s aide, Segun Tomori, said the follow-up action was necessary after the illegal miners also ignored appeals from community traditional rulers to vacate the site in order to give the mineral licence titleholders unhindered access to the area for legitimate operations.
“For over 16 years, the rightful mining licence holders have been unable to access the location due to the activities of armed illegal miners.
“Acting on intelligence reports suggesting that the illegal operators had remained defiant, the Mining Marshals last week stormed the site, neutralised resistance from the armed gangs, and successfully cleared the area,” according to a statement he gave to journalists yesterday.
On his part, the commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC John Attah Onoja, reiterated the commitment of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, to eradicating illegal mining in the country. He issued a stern warning to all involved in these illegal activities, regardless of their status, to desist or face the full wrath of the law.
The Mining Marshals, operating under the direction of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, are tasked with securing the mining environment to boost investor confidence in the sector.
