Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested 21 suspected illegal miners in Cross River State.
Disclosing this, the state Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr Samuel Fadeyi, said the service carried out the operation in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in the Utanga community in the Obanliku Local Government Area of the state.
Fadeyi, while parading the suspects on Monday at the NSCDC headquarters in Calabar, the state capital, noted that the suspects were arrested on May 11.
The commandant condemned the act saying that illegal mining could worsen security challenges and cause natural disasters in the community.
The commandant said “Our searchlight was able to identify a place in the Utanga community in the Obanliku Local Government Area where we raided 21 suspects caught in the act of illegal mining.
“We arrested them together with their implements and tools. The suspects are undergoing investigation and soon, we will prosecute them.
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“Some communities are complicit in these illegal mining activities in their area because they rely on peanuts that come out of it and forget the challenges that may come thereafter.
“These illegal activities can attract criminal elements, warlords, insecurity and disaster in the area during the process of digging.
“Rather, they would have approached the Federal Mines Office and get a licence and allow the mines officer to put them through before undergoing such activities.”
On his part, the Federal Mines Officer, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Cross River State, Mayowa Omosebi, commended the operatives who effected the arrest.
He added that efforts had been on to arrest the suspects and stop illegal mining in the area.
Omosebi said, “What we are asking for is more funding because of the peculiarity of distance in Cross River. The headquarters of the state office is very far from where you have the illegal activities taking place.
“There is no place illegal mining activities are taking place without the consent of the land owners; I have organised a stakeholders’ forum to educate them on the need to do the right thing.
“The licence for mining is straightforward, and we keep advising them to explore the right channels and shun illegality.”
Various implements such as pumping machines, diggers, head-pans and shovels were recovered from the suspects.