FG Shuts Down Illegal Mining Site in FCT.

The Federal Government has closed an illegal mining site in Guabe, Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of its ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining activities.

This operation was executed by the Mining Marshal Corp, a specialized force inaugurated by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, on March 21. The Corp, consisting of 2,220 trained personnel, functions as a rapid response squad deployed across the 36 states and the FCT to secure mining areas and sanitize the sector.

According to a statement released on Thursday by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Segun Tomori, three suspects were apprehended during the operation. The statement highlighted that the operation, led by Corp Commander John Attah, was successful due to meticulous intelligence gathering and surveillance efforts.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects lacked any documentation authorizing their mining activities at the site. Furthermore, a legitimate mining company with the necessary permits for the same location was unable to access the site due to the illegal miners’ activities and resistance,” the statement said.

Commander Attah emphasized that such illegal activities displace lawful miners and investors, hindering legitimate operations. The suspects, who confessed to their illegal activities, admitted they had been operating at the site for over a year. Approximately 2,000 tonnes of lithium were discovered on-site, highlighting the scale of the illegal operation.

“We met about 2,000 tonnes of lithium on the ground. The quantity of lithium mined since the commencement of operations cannot be quantified as they were not being recorded due to the illegality of their mining operations,” Commander Attah noted.

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The statement also indicated that the seized minerals and equipment at the site have been marked as exhibits for prosecution. Further investigations are underway to uncover the full extent of the illegal activities and to ensure those responsible are held accountable.

This action underscores the government’s commitment to clamping down on illegal mining activities and promoting a regulated mining sector that benefits lawful operators and investors.