The fight against illegal mining by the Nigerian government has been given a significant boost with the prosecution of eight Chinese nationals for their involvement in illegal mining activities in Lokpaukwu community, Umuchieze, located within Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
The Mining Marshals, a security group drawn from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), recently apprehended several suspects, one of whom is Nigerian. Their primary objective is to eliminate illegal operators from the mining sector.
The Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, disclosed that the trial of the suspects commenced yesterday before Justice J.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court, and were promptly remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja after taking their pleas.
The suspects face a three-count charge, including mining without lawful authority and obstruction of lawful mining operations.
Tomori reiterated the Minister’s commitment to sanitising the mining space by strengthening the operations of the Mining Marshals through the infusion of technology and more equipment to ensure that the nation gets maximum benefits from the industry.