The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, confirmed the operation in a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, in Abuja on Thursday
By Titilope Adako
The Mining Marshals have successfully shut down an illegal mining site and arrested three foreign nationals in Rafin-Gabas, a community in Kokona Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, confirmed the operation in a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, in Abuja on Thursday.
Alake described the operation as a significant step towards sanitising the mining sector and combating criminal activities threatening Nigeria’s mineral wealth.
He said, “The illegal operators of the site had previously evaded arrest due to protection allegedly provided by compromised security operatives.”
However, the Marshals conducted a well-coordinated operation, arresting three foreign nationals believed to be central to the illicit mining activities.
While some suspects managed to escape, possibly with the assistance of security operatives, the government is committed to bringing all involved parties to justice.
Alake added, “Several other suspects managed to flee, allegedly with the help of some security personnel.”
John Onoja, the Commander of the Mining Marshals, confirmed that a manhunt was underway for the fugitives and investigations were ongoing to identify and prosecute any security personnel complicit in the illegal activities.
Onoja further revealed that the company behind the operation and some of the fugitives already face criminal charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Since the launch of the Mining Marshals in 2024, 327 suspects have been arrested, with 143 individuals prosecuted for illegal mining across the country.
The Marshals, drawn from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), are specially trained to combat illegal miners and other threats to the nation’s mineral resources.
Minister Alake reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance on illegal mining, vowing to continue enforcing the law to ensure Nigeria’s mineral wealth benefits the people, not criminals or their collaborators.
He stated, “We are committed to enforcing the law and ensuring that Nigeria’s mineral resources benefit the people, not criminals or their collaborators.”
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