The Nigerian Federal Government has taken significant action against illegal mining activities, particularly targeting foreign and local suspects involved in unauthorized gold mining.
Two Chinese Nationals: Arrested for illegal gold mining in Ondo State.
One Nigerian: A Kogi State indigene, along with four other suspects, were also apprehended in Ondo State’s Ogunlepa Forest Reserve.
Charges and Legal Proceedings:
The suspects have been charged to court in the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charges relate to illegal mining activities, which have been a significant concern in Nigeria’s mining sector.
Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals, emphasized his commitment to cleansing the mining sector of criminal elements and illegal operations.
Alake has highlighted plans to enhance the operations of Mining Marshals using technology and satellite monitoring to better detect and prevent illegal mining activities.
The Minister urged all individuals involved in illegal mining to cease their activities and comply with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NNMA).
He reaffirmed the government’s zero tolerance for illegal mining and reiterated the intention to prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.
This move underscores the Nigerian government’s increased focus on enforcing legal frameworks and utilizing advanced technologies to combat illegal mining and its associated environmental and economic impacts.
