Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, says the federal government has arrested three Chinese nationals and two Nigerians for illegal mining in Nasarawa state.
In a statement by Segun Tomori, the minister’s special assistant on media, on Monday in Abuja, Alake said the suspects were arrested at an illegal mining site in Rafin-Gabas, Agwada, located in Kokona local government area.
The minister said the company involved started operations in 2021, resulting in significant revenue losses to the federal government.
According to Alake, the ministry’s mining marshals, set up to safeguard mining sites across the country, carried out the arrests based on credible intelligence.
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“The suspects were arrested for mining without lawful authorisation. Some of the minerals being mined include fluorite, zinc, lead, and tin,” Alake said.
“The arrested suspects confessed to having been on illicit activities at the site spanning five cadastral units since December 15, 2021.
“The company defied all lawful advice to regularise their activities and continued syphoning the nation’s resources, causing significant revenue losses to the Federal Government.”
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Alake confirmed over 200 illegal miners have been arrested so far, with about 140 undergoing prosecution nationwide.
On September 16, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said the anti-graft agency arrested five Chinese nationals for alleged illegal mining in Ndito-Eka-Iba village, located in Ibiono LGA of Akwa Ibom state.
The EFCC apprehended the suspects during operations carried out in August and September by the special task force on illegal mining.
The house of representatives committee on solid minerals development said Nigeria loses $9 billion yearly due to illegal mining.
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