The Federal Government has shut down an illicit gold mine location in Kogi State’s Yagba East Local Government Area.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, stated that the action was taken as part of the Federal Government’s resolve to stop illicit mining and reposition the industry to raise Nigeria’s status internationally.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori on Friday in Abuja, stating the operation was carried out by the Mining marshals in Iyeh Odogbe, Isanlu community of Yagba East LGA, according to The Punch.
According to Tomori, the operation involved dislodging illegal miners whose activities have prevented lawfully authorised miners with licenses covering four cadastral units from accessing the site for 16 years.
He stated that reports suggested that the illicit operations had continued unchecked for over two decades.
He said that the operation, led by Commander of the Mining Marshals, Attah Onoja, also resulted in the arrest of seven suspects leading various groups of illegal miners in the area.
According to Tomori, efforts to properly safeguard the region and guarantee its full recovery for legal mining activities would resume in earnest. The workers had been given five days to leave the site.
