NSCDC Arrests Four Illegal Miners in Anambra.
Maku Olatunde, the Commandant of the NSCDC in Anambra, presented the suspects to the public in Awka, the state capital, on Friday. He stated that the arrests were made in collaboration with the Federal Mines Officer of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in Anambra State. Olatunde noted that the operations were in strict compliance with directives from the Commandant-General to eradicate illegal mining across the country.
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The suspects, identified as Nnamani Chidubem, Ekemezie Ifeanyi, Okolie Patrick, and Onyedika Somtoo, were apprehended around 1 pm on Thursday at the Toll Gate in Ogbunike, located in the Oyi Local Government Area of the state.
“These suspects were caught mining laterite without approval from the relevant authorities, causing environmental degradation in the area. With what we have done today, it is a strong signal to those illegal miners that it is no longer business as usual,” said Olatunde.
He emphasized that illegal mining constitutes economic sabotage and poses significant environmental risks, urging stakeholders to operate with valid licenses and approved mining sites.
Exhibits recovered from the suspects included a truck loaded with laterite, registered as LAGOS T-13038 LA, nine heavy-duty batteries, one heavy-duty hydraulic jack, and four fuel filters.
