Army Arrests 18 Illegal Miners, Recovers N2.4m in Niger

The Nigerian Army has arrested 18 suspected illegal miners at a mining site in Izom, Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, and recovered cash and mining equipment.

The suspects were arrested by troops of the 102 Guard Battalion during a routine operation and later handed over to the NSCDC Mining Marshals in Abuja.

The NSCDC Mining Marshals said preliminary investigations showed that the suspects allegedly operated without the required licences or permits.

Items recovered from the site included motorcycles, pumping machines, crusher engines, communication devices and N2,468,750 in cash.

Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, John Onoja Attah, commended the Nigerian Army for its cooperation in tackling illegal mining.

Attah said the suspects were being processed for prosecution under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.