Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, has reiterated the federal government’s commitment to eradicating illegal mining in Nigeria, following the arrest of seven suspected illegal miners in Kogi and Ondo states by operatives of the mining marshals.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Segun Tomori, spokesperson for the minister, disclosed that the suspects, including two Chinese nationals and a Nigerian, were arrested in the Ikah community of Ankpa LGA in Kogi state. Four others were apprehended at an illegal mining station in Oluwa forest reserve, Odigbo LGA of Ondo state.

Tomori stated that the suspects confessed to lacking the necessary licenses or authorization to carry out their operations during interrogation.

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“These individuals, caught in the act of illegally mining gold in a government reserved area, confessed during interrogation that they lacked the necessary licenses or authorisation to carry out their operations,” he said.

The suspects have been charged to the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the minister has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to eliminating illegal mining in the country. “The minister reaffirms the federal government’s commitment to eliminating illegal mining in the country by bolstering the operations of the mining marshals with the infusion of technology and imminent satellite monitoring of mining sites,” Tomori said.

Alake urged those still involved in illegal activities in the mining sector to comply with the relevant sections of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA). “The resolve of the federal government to wield the big stick is unflinching,” he said.

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