Ten Illegal Gold Miners Arrested In Edo
By Osehobo Ofure, Benin City
Ten suspected illegal gold miners have been arrested in the Dagbala forest, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, and are currently in police custody.
Edo State Commissioner for Mining, Hon. Andrew Ijegbai, disclosed this in Igarra.
He stated that the suspects were apprehended by a joint team of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the police.
According to the Commissioner, the arrested individuals confessed to being paid by unknown sponsors to mine gold illegally. They were caught with tools used for their operations.
Ijegbai condemned the act and warned that the state government would take decisive action against sponsors of illegal mining. He assured that the government would continue to implement measures to curb the menace.
“Governor Okpebholo has given the ministry a marching order to eradicate all forms of sharp practices, including illegal mining,” Ijegbai said.
He noted that illegal mining amounts to economic sabotage, depriving the government of revenue and denying communities socio-economic benefits.
The Commissioner stressed that illegal mining degrades the environment and fuels insecurity.
He therefore urged residents to embrace legal mining practices, emphasising that mining required proper approvals and documentation from the federal and state governments.
Meanwhile, the state government has set up a 12-man task force from the six kindreds in Dagbala Community to assist security agencies in monitoring mining activities to ensure responsible and sustainable mining practices.
