Taskforce Arrests 10 Suspected Illegal Miners In Cross River

The Cross River State Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce has arrested 10 suspected illegal miners in Yakurr local government area of the state.

The Chairman of the taskforce, Prince Paul Effiong disclosed this during an interactive session with LEADERSHIP on Monday, in Calabar.

The suspects were said to be non-indigenes of Cross River State who were found to be involved in illegal mining around Yakurr LGA in the Central Senatorial district of the state.

Effiong pledged that the taskforce would do everything within its reach to ensure that all loopholes existing in the mining sector in the state were closed.

He assured that no amount of intimidation from powerful individuals involved in illegal mining activity can make the taskforce succumb to compromise.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the taskforce chairman had been involved in a legal tussle with a former member representing Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency over seizure of his mining equipment he put at N200million and alleged invasion of his mining site.

The former reps member had, in suit No: FHC/PHC/CS/147/2025 at the Federal High court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State dragged the Cross River State Anti-illegal Mining Taskforce chairman to court for allegedly sealing his mining site at Akamkpa.

Effiong however said he was unperturbed by the suit and vowed to continue its campaign against illegal mining, stating that its activities were causing environmental degradation, deforestation, water pollution, and land degradation in Yakurr, Akamkpa, Biase, Boki, Obubra, Ikom, and Obanliku communities.

He also vowed that the committee will not relent in its fight against illegal mining, urging residents to report suspicious mining activities to the taskforce while stressing that genuine mining operations must be registered with state and federal authorities.

Effiong assured that the case is currently ongoing at Port Harcourt Federal High court, stressing that it’s only the court that will determine the fate of the respondents.