Nigeria’s Mining Marshals have apprehended a group of illegal miners, comprising three Chinese nationals and two Nigerians in Rafin-Gabas in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
A reliable source told InfomediaNG on Monday that the illegal miners engaged in illicit mining of flourite, zinc, lead, and tin at the location.
It was gathered that they have been operating at the site since December 15, 2021, in collusion with the local community.
On March 21, 2024, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, launched mining marshal, arm-bearing units of the ministry in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Interior to combat illegal mining across Nigeria.
The initial launch consisted of 60 personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
In June 2024, the minister, again, announced the addition of 350 personnel and deployed them to several mining sites across the country, charging them to stop the stealing of Nigeria’s natural resources.
Today, there are over 2,000 mining marshals. Over 200 illegal mining suspects have been arrested, while several illegally mined minerals worth billions of naira in market value have been confiscated.
“We aim to intensify sector sanitization and boost investor confidence, leading to increased investments and development in the mining industry,” Alake had said in June.
The latest arrest of illegal miners in Nasarawa State adds to the number of illicit foreign miners who collude with the locals.