FG prosecutes illegal mining suspects in Ondo, Kogi

This was revealed in a statement released on Monday by Segun Tomori, the Minister's Special Assistant on Media.

During a recent operation codenamed “Operation Hayakin Kogo,” conducted by the Mining Marshals in the Ikah Community of Ankpa Local Government Area, Kogi State, two Chinese nationals and a Nigerian were arrested for engaging in mining activities without proper authorization. The operation is part of a broader initiative to enforce existing mining regulations.”

According to the statement, “In a related development, the Mining Marshals also raided an illegal gold mining site in the Ogunlepa, Oluwa Forest Reserve, Odigbo LGA of Ondo State, where four suspects were arrested.

“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.

“The suspects from both Kogi and Ondo states have since been charged to the Federal High Court, Abuja.”

The government's commitment to sanitising the mining industry was emphasised by Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake, who said that a crucial element of his seven-point agenda for reforming the industry is the 2,570-strong Mining Marshals, who are recruited from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

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