Olusegun Ariyo
Mining Marshals, recently deployed to curb illegal mining activities across Nigeria, clashed with security forces last Friday over the attempted arrest of Chinese nationals allegedly engaged in unlicensed lithium mining in Libata, Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The Marshals claimed they were blocked from detaining the suspects by military and police officers, who were reportedly on site to protect the Chinese miners.
The Marshals, led by Commander Attah Onoja, had conducted a sting operation aimed at detaining unlicensed miners and confiscating their equipment.
As the Marshals prepared to transport the suspects to Abuja, they were ordered by security personnel to halt the arrests. To avoid further escalation, Onoja withdrew his team, vowing to pursue legal action to ensure the enforcement of lawful mining practices in the region.
The Federal Government recently launched the Mining Marshals initiative under the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, in collaboration with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The program aims to tackle the growing issue of illegal mining across the country.
El-TahDam Exploration CEO Engr. Adamu Tah, whose company reportedly has a valid lease for the mining site, alleged that the Chinese company, backed by local security forces, has been carrying out unauthorized mining activities, frustrating his firm’s plans to establish a $50 million processing plant in the area.
Tah claimed the illegal operations not only exploit valuable resources but also prevent his company from generating over 3,000 local jobs. He called for immediate intervention to remove the alleged illegal occupants and allow lawful operations to commence.
“The Chinese, because of the illegal mining they are undertaking there, exploiting and carting away countless tonnes of crude materials, want to frustrate our efforts to set up the processing plant there.
They also have some state actors in strong support since the complaint letter to that effect dispatched to them remains unattended.
Other local cohorts and influential figures are clearly behind their illegal act, no doubt,” Tah stated.
