Ondo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Eng. Rasak Obe, has commended Nigerian Army troops for their prompt and effective response against illegal miners in the state.
During the parading of suspects at the Headquarters in Akure, Obe solicited cooperation from all stakeholders, emphasizing the need to permanently address the menace of illegal mining.
“The menace of illegal mining needs to be permanently addressed, as it poses the tendencies to exacerbate insecurity in the state and the country at large,” Obe said.
Troops of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, arrested 26 suspected illegal miners on September 3, 2024, in Ondo West Local Government Area.
The suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for further investigation and prosecution.
Items recovered during the arrest included: seven mobile phones, 21 head pans, four cutlasses, 12 shovels, 12 painter buckets, Foot carpets, Sack containing clothes.
The Nigerian Army’s clampdown on illegal miners demonstrates their commitment to protecting Nigeria’s critical infrastructures and eliminating criminal activities.
The Brigade expressed gratitude to the people of Ondo State for their continued support through information sharing to rid the state of criminality.
