NSCDC arrests 3 illegal miners in Plateau

NSCDC operatives

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Plateau command, has apprehended three illegal miners in Mista Ali Village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau.

The state Commandant of the NSCDC, Solomon Olasupo, who presented the illegal miners before newsmen, on Wednesday in Jos, said that the arrest was made based on security tip-off.

He said that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as all investigations were concluded.

The commandant said the suspects are; Akinga Lamindi, Bitrus Bala and Anas Aliyu.

He said that the illegal miners were apprehended at the site by officers and men of the command.

According to Olasupo, the culprits were caught with the following items, pumping machine, three bags of tin and columbite, shovels, diggers and other extracting implements.

Accordingly, the men were also found to be in possession of some substances suspected to be hard drugs, he said.

He explained that if an individual had a piece of land in which there was mineral resources, the mineral did not belong to the person, but to the government.

Olasupo said that anyone who wanted to embark on mining activities was expected to obtain a mining license, pay royalty to the Federal and State governments.

“Mining is a legal business and anybody who is interested in it, should approach the appropriate authorities for license instead of doing it illegally,’’ he said.

According to him, illegal mining activities constitute environmental hazards to the people in the society.

The commandant warned those engaging in the nefarious act of illegal mining to desist from such.

He said that the NSCDC would not rest on its oars until the activity of illegal miners was stopped and the perpetrators made to face justice.