The federal government has charged suspected illegal miners arrested in Kogi and Ondo states to court as part of efforts to sanitize the mining sector.
The suspects were arrested during an operation led by the Mining Marshals, code-named “Operation Hayakin Kogo,” in Ikah Community, Ankpa LGA, Kogi State, and Ogunlepa, Oluwa Forest Reserve, Odigbo LGA, Ondo State.
Two Chinese nationals and a Nigerian were arrested in Kogi State, while four suspects were arrested in Ondo State for illegal gold mining in a Government Reserved Area.
The suspects have been charged to the Federal High Court, Abuja, for violating existing mining regulations.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to eliminating illegal mining, and urged those involved to regularize their operations in line with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NNMA).
The government plans to bolster the operations of the Mining Marshals with technology and satellite monitoring of mining sites.
