The Federal Government has ramped up its efforts to combat illegal mining activities with a recent clearance operation executed by the Mining Marshals in Jaguna, off Iye/Odogbe communities in Yagba East Local Government Area, Kogi State.
The crackdown comes on the heels of a previous raid on July 15,2024, during which Mining Marshals apprehended seven suspected illegal gold miners in Jaguna, a location enveloped by thick forest. At the time, labourers on-site were ordered to vacate the area within five days.
According to Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, “Rather than comply with the directive, the illegal miners mobilised additional workers and fortified the site with armed protection. This led to the latest operation by the Mining Marshals to dislodge them.”
The Mining Marshals’ follow-up action was deemed necessary after the illegal miners blatantly ignored appeals from community traditional rulers to vacate the site. The ongoing illegal activities had prevented the licensed mineral titleholders from gaining access to the area for over 16 years.
Segun Tomori further explained, “Acting on intelligence reports suggesting that the illegal operators had remained defiant, the Mining Marshals, last week, stormed the site, neutralised resistance from the armed gangs, and successfully cleared the area.”
In a statement, Commander of the Mining Marshals, ACC John Attah Onoja, emphasised the resolve of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, to eradicate illegal mining in Nigeria. He issued a stark warning to those engaged in such activities, urging them to desist or face the full weight of the law.
The Mining Marshals, under the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, are mandated to secure the mining environment to bolster investor confidence and ensure the lawful exploitation of the nation’s mineral resources.
