Government Arraigns Eight Foreign Nationals, Nigerians over illegal mining
The Federal Government has indicted eight Chinese nationals and one Nigerian with illegal mining in Lokpaukwu community, Umuchieze, Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
The suspects, busted by the Mining Marshals—a security unit created under the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)—were arraigned on a 3-count charge before Justice J.K. Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The charges include mining without authorization and obstructing lawful mining operations. The defendants were remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the next trial date.
The marshals, under the operation, codenamed “Operation Hayakin Kogo”, were established by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake as part of his seven-point agenda to put things in order in the mining sector.
“The establishment of the mining marshals is a crucial step in our agenda to sanitise the mining environment and ensure that Nigeria benefits fully from its mineral resources,” Alake was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesman, Segun Tomori.
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