The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Forces (NSCDC) mining marshal closed the illegal mining site in the Rafen-Gabas community in the Kokona local government area of Nasarawa State and arrested three foreigners.
The Legion’s National Public Relations Officer, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, disclosed this in a statement Friday, April 4, 2025, saying the site was protected by security personnel from certain damages.
According to a spokesperson, some suspects managed to escape by colluding with the help of safety operators, seeing our soldiers.
According to the statement, the companies behind the illegal operation, as well as some fugitives, filed criminal charges in the Federal High Court of Abuja.
“The Mining Marshal is a special lineup of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Forces, with a versatility and professionalism in field operations, which has made a major breakthrough in illegal mining in Nasarawa,” the statement reads.
“In tactical coordination and intelligence-driven operations, the NSCDC mining marshal attacked the crime scene and demolished a severely intensified illegal mining site in Rafin Gabas, the Kokona local government area of Nasarawa.
“Earlier, the site was protected by certain damaged security personnel and has long been operating within the scope of law enforcement.
“The special mining marshal commander, assistant commander John Onoja Attah, said his men successfully infiltrated the stronghold and arrested three Chinese nationals for illegal mining activities, while some suspects were helped by successful security operations among their men when they saw our men.”
AC Attah said the operation still made a major breakthrough in the ongoing struggle against illegal mining throughout the federal government.
“This marks our relentless battle to disinfect the mining industry and we will firmly demolish and arrest illegal mining gatherings as we assure the public that the perpetrators will be brought to justice,” Attah said.
“At present, the illegal mining site has been sealed and a search has been launched against the fugitive suspect; an investigation is being conducted to reveal the person behind the outrageous crime; we will also prosecute any safety operators who assist and teach the illegal mining activities.”
Meanwhile, solid Mineral Development Minister Dele Alake confirmed the development in a statement by Segun Tomori, special media assistant in Abuja, who described the action as an important step towards illegal mining and disinfecting the industry.
The Minister praised the Marshal, describing the action as a breakthrough in the struggle against illegal mining. He reiterated the government’s commitment to combating illegal mining and ensuring accountability.
