The Federal Government has said
that two illegal mining companies- Solid Unit Limited and Geotess Nigeria
Limited that were shut down in Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau
State last month, had illegally taken out minerals worth over N100 billion, in
the past few years they have been involved in illegal activities in the area.
The Minister of Mines and steel
Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi disclosed this during a meeting with staff of the
ministry in Abuja recently.
Sixteen Chinese nationals and
eight Nigerians involved in massive illegal mining were arrested in Zurak, on
August 15 at the wake of the shutting down of the two companies on the orders
of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-Gen Babagana Monguno (rtd), and
the Minister when the duo visited some illegal mining sites in the richly
endowed lead/zinc belt.
The Chairman of Solid Unit
Limited, Alhaji Usman Abubakar (aka Dan China) who is regarded as the most
notorious illegal miner in the State was also declared wanted by the NSA, who
ordered all security agencies to arrest him for acts seen as economic sabotage.
Dr Fayemi, in the meeting
attended by all cadre of the workers in the ministry, said the huge scale of
illegal mining by the two companies in Wase was tantamount to economic
terrorism, adding that government was determined to confront anyone or group
that are out to sabotage the economy through illegal mining and other means.
He said the scale of illegal
mining perpetrated by the two blacklisted companies and their foreign
collaborators was humongous, stressing that they used very sophisticated
equipment, including a tunnel with rail track and other heavy machines for their
illegal operations.
He said the arrested Nigerians
have been in active connivance with foreigners to carry out massive illegal
mining in the state thereby depriving the country of revenue. “Their
unwholesome activities have also led to environmental degradation and abandoned
mine pits.”, he said.
He said the leadership of the
ministry carried out the operation that led to the closure of the illegal
mining companies/sites and the arrest in a discreet manner, because of the
massive network of collaborators and informants at the disposal of the
companies.
“We didn’t want to leave anything
to chance, so it was done discreetly”, he said, adding that it was a successful
operation, which according to him had also restored sanity to the area, which
had been under the siege of illegal miners and criminal elements for some
years.
The arrested Nigerians and their
foreign collaborators, according to him, have been handed over to the newly
inaugurated Mines Division of the Nigerian Police for prosecution.
In response to a question by one
of the workers, Dr Fayemi said the ministry would adopt its own whistle blowing
arrangement in order to encourage more information on illegal mining activities
in the sector.
The Minister however added that
the ministry would continue to guide and provide both technical and financial
supports genuine artisanal and small scale miners, who abide by the rules and
regulations guiding the sector.
Zurak is a key location of
substantial mineral deposits notably lead, zinc, copper, tin, wolframite,
tantalite and other base metals. Overtime the range of illegal mining
activities has been recorded around the area leading to the wanton loss of
revenue, minable land and social displacement of the rural communities.
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