Thirty-three (33) persons have been arrested for illegal mining in the parts of Minna, the state capital.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that the state Ministry of Mineral Resources carried out a raid on some illegal mining sites in Minna, the state capital recently.
The clampdown became necessary due to the deafening ears turned to the suspension orders placed on all sorts of illegal mining activities pronounced by the state government a few months ago.
The raid on the sites was led by the state commissioner for Mineral Resources, Garba Sabo Yahaya in the company of other top members of the Ministry.
Locations raided by the officials included the three-arm zone, M.I Wushishi, T. Mama Mandela and Keterengwari areas. A total of 33 individuals were arrested with 9 apprehended in the three arms zone, 7 in M.I Wushishi, and 17 in the T. Mama Mandela area.
Some of the tools being used at the site including 11 water pump generators and 1 motorbike among others were seized.
The Commissioner while answering questions from Journalists after the exercise said the raid will be a continuous exercise within Minna the state capital and across the state in general.
“The raid is in accordance with the Governor’s directives. The Ministry of Mineral Resources is fully committed to enforcing the ban on illegal mining and will take decisive action against anyone involved regardless of whether they possess a license or not.
“The ministry will thoroughly investigate all mining operations leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to enforce the law and getting rid of the illegal miners.
“The state government is much more concerned about the involvement of children in the illegal trade at the detriment of their education and I hereby urge those involved in the illegality to seek legal means of livelihood to avoid being arrested and prosecuted,” he declared.
Some residents of the communities involved had in the past raised alarm over the harbouring of these illegal miners in the areas by some people and the danger inherent in the illegal trade and therefore called on the state government to intervene.