Kogi govt arrest two illegal gold miners

By Nwalie Chiamaka

The Kogi State Government has arrested two suspected illegal gold miners during an enforcement operation at Irutuba Village in Okene Local Government Area as part of efforts to curb unauthorised mining activities.

The operation was led by the state Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Abubakar Bashir Gegu, who said the government would not tolerate the unlawful exploitation of the state’s mineral resources.

The suspects, identified as Abdulrahaman Nuhuramat and Yusuf Ramat, were apprehended at a mining site on community land. They were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for investigation and possible prosecution.

Gegu described illegal mining as economic sabotage, warning that the practice threatens the environment and the livelihoods of communities.

He urged miners operating without authorisation to desist and ensure that mineral resources are extracted through legal channels.

The village head of Irutuba, Adams Shaibu, welcomed the government’s intervention but raised concerns about alleged trespassing on ancestral land and damage to farmlands by people searching for gold.

He appealed to the state government to strengthen security in the community to protect residents and their property.

In response, Gegu assured community leaders that their concerns would be communicated to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. He also called on traditional rulers and community leaders to report suspicious mining activities to the relevant authorities.

The state government said it would continue working with security agencies to tackle illegal mining and protect Kogi’s mineral resources.

The two suspects remain subject to investigation, and the allegations against them have not been established in court.