Security officials from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have apprehended four individuals of Chinese descent at an unauthorized mining operation in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. It was also discovered that lithium was sold at the site. On April 27, 2024, a statement was released by Babawale Afolabi, who is the spokesperson for the NSCDC, revealing this information. In response to the government’s initiative, a group of NSCDC personnel were specially trained and designated as Federal Government Mining Marshals.
These marshals have been working diligently to crack down on illegal miners who are causing harm to the nation’s economy. Acting on reliable information, the Mining Marshalls boldly sprang into action with renewed determination. Their efforts led them to a clandestine mining site in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, where unauthorized extraction and sale of lithium was taking place. The squad detained four Chinese individuals during the sting operation. After a preliminary investigation, it was revealed that they confessed to operating an illicit site for the sale of lithium. This information was disclosed in the official statement.
Suspects who were taken into custody had admitted to the crime.
ACC. Attah John Onoja, the Mining Marshall Commander, explained that the confiscated minerals were taken in accordance with the regulations outlined in Section 146 (b) of the Minerals and Mining Act of 2007. He mentioned that the Chinese individuals were arrested because they had declined to cooperate with questioning after being invited to do so. Onoja stated that they planned to submit a formal request to the court to seize the confiscated lithium minerals, with the resulting funds being sent back to the Federal Government.
He stated that initial inquiries have revealed the location where the minerals were being disposed of illegally, without the necessary permit. In a statement, he declared that the suspects who were taken into custody had admitted to the crime, acknowledging that they did not possess the required certification or authorization to trade in solid minerals. The individuals in question are currently operating a business known as HOSAN AGRO-ALLIED COMPANY LTD, which was established with the purpose of engaging in agricultural operations and services.
Mining Marshals to put an end to illegal mining operations.
The Federal Government made a promise to eliminate illegal mining operations nationwide and put an end to the issue of mineral theft that is causing problems in the solid minerals industry of the country. As the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Audi, remains committed to eliminating illegal mining activities, he has urged the Mining Marshals to diligently carry out their duties in order to protect the country from unauthorized mining operations. Unauthorized mining occurs when individuals engage in mining activities without obtaining the necessary approval from the government.
This type of mining involves extracting valuable minerals without adhering to the required protocols and regulations for legal mining operations, which encompass obtaining permits and licenses for various stages of the mining process such as exploration, extraction, and transportation. Illegal miners show a blatant disregard for the environment, often lacking the necessary knowledge to understand the impact of their actions. This results in complete destruction of the environment where they operate. On the other hand, certified mining operations pose a lesser threat to the environment.
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Additionally, this is due to strict guidelines that they must adhere to in order to protect and preserve the environment while extracting resources. The destructive actions of illegal miners result in abandoned mining pits that remain gaping wounds in the earth. Countless lives, both human and animal, are lost due to these unfilled pits. Moreover, the contamination of surface and underground water by pollutants such as mud, mercury, and cyanide poses a serious threat to the water supply for drinking and agricultural purposes. The harmful effects of illegal mining on ecosystems are vast and varied.
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