Seven illegal miners arrested at Kogi gold site

Following their involvement in illicit mining operations at a gold site in Kogi State's Yagba East Local Government Area, no fewer than seven individuals have been taken into custody. 

Segun Tomori, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake's Special Assistant on Media, made this revelation in a statement on Friday. 

Mining marshals removed the illicit miners throughout the operation, since their operations had barred licenced miners from "accessing the site for 16 years."

The statement read in parts, “The nationwide onslaught of the Federal Government against illegal mining has gathered momentum with the arrest of several suspects allegedly involved in the illegal mining of gold in Yagba East LGA, Kogi State.

“The operation, carried out by the mining marshals in Iyeh Odogbe, Isanlu community of Yagba East LGA, involved dislodging illegal miners whose activities have prevented lawfully authorised miners with licences covering four cadastral units from accessing the site for 16 years. Reports indicate that the nefarious activities have gone unhindered for over 20 years.

“The well-coordinated operation, led by Commander, Mining Marshals, Attah Onoja, resulted in the arrest of seven suspects heading different groups of illegal miners in the area.”

Source