In a significant crackdown on illegal mining operations, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) acting as Mining Marshals have apprehended 10 trucks in Kogi State. The individuals responsible for conveying the minerals were subsequently charged to court for illegal possession and transportation of minerals.
This operation is part of the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Dele Alake’s 7-point agenda aimed at sanitizing the mining sector. The deployment of Mining Marshals by the NSCDC was intended to safeguard mining sites and restore order to the sector.
The recent arrest along the Itobe-Ajokuta road in Kogi State highlights the effectiveness of the Mining Marshals in combating illegal mining activities. The suspects were found in possession of minerals without the required legal documentation, contravening the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and Mining Regulations 2011.
Investigations revealed that the suspects had acquired the minerals from illegal miners without proper evidence of legal mining titles or payment of royalties. Additionally, some companies were discovered to have engaged third-party agents in the unauthorized purchase of minerals from the Awulu community in Ankpa Local Government Area of the state.
The arrested suspects have been charged to court pending further legal proceedings, while the directors of the implicated companies have been summoned for questioning. The NSCDC Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC Attah John Onoja, has affirmed the commitment to intensifying operations to ensure full compliance with existing laws and regulations governing the mining sector.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration from all stakeholders in supporting government efforts to sanitize the mining sector and uphold legal standards.
