The Federal Government has shut down an illegal mining site and arrested three suspects during the operation at Guabe in Kuje of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
Mining Marshal Corp officers carried out the operation to safeguard the mining environment and sanitize the industry. Dr. Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, officially launched it on March 21.
With 2,220 specially trained fast reaction squad members spread over 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the corp comprises a large force.
Three individuals were taken into custody during the operation, according to a statement made on Thursday in Abuja by the minister’s special assistant on media, Mr. Segun Tomori.
The statement claims that careful observation and intelligence gathering made the operation headed by Corp Commander John Attah successful.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects lacked any documentation authorizing their mining activities on the site,” the statement reads.
“Furthermore, because of the illegal miners’ actions and resistance, a genuine mining business with the required permissions for the same area was unable to reach the site,” the statement read.
According to a comment from the Commander, the development would not be allowed to continue since it was keeping investors and lawful miners from carrying out their business as usual.
The statement claims that the suspects acknowledged committing the crime and that they had been using the location for over a year.
Approximately 2,000 tons of lithium were discovered on the premises when they were captured, highlighting the scope of the illicit enterprise.
