Saturday, April 27, 2024 -Four Chinese have been arrested by the Mining Marshals of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, at an illegal mining site where lithium is sold at Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Spokesman of the NSCDC, Babawale Afolabi
disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
“Following the commissioning of some
specially trained NSCDC personnel as Federal Government Mining Marshals, the
team has intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal miners sabotaging the
economy of the nation.
“The Mining Marshalls with a renewed vigour
swung into action following credible intelligence and uncovered an illegal
mining site where lithium is sold at Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa
State.
“During the sting operation, the squad
arrested four Chinese nationals who through preliminary investigation admitted
that they were running an illegal site used for selling lithium,” the statement
said.
The Mining Marshall Commander, ACC. Attah
John Onoja, said the minerals in question were seized in line with the
provisions of Section 146 (b) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.
He added that the arrest of the Chinese
followed their refusal to honour invitation for questioning.
Onoja added that an application would be
lodged in court for forfeiture of the impounded lithium minerals while the
proceeds would be remitted to the Federal Government.
According to him, preliminary investigations
have unearthed where the minerals were being disposed of without the required
license.
He said, “The arrested suspects have
confessed to the crime, admitting that they held no certificate or license to
deal in the solid minerals.
“The suspects are running a business venture
identified as HOSAN AGRO-ALLIED COMPANY LTD which was registered to deal in
agricultural-related activities.”
The Federal Government had vowed to stamp
out illegal mining activities across the country and end the menace of mineral
theft plaguing the solid minerals sector of the nation’s economy.
Meanwhile, the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi has charged the Mining Marshals to work assiduously to rid the country of illegal miners.
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