By Kelvin Ololo
The Cross River State Anti-illegal Mining Taskforce has arrested 10 suspected illegal miners in Yakurr Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects are said to be indigenes of Zamfarra and Sokoto States.
Parading the suspects at the State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the State Commander, Commandant Charles Brown, called on Cross Riverians to be alert of migrant that live among them to avert any security challenge in the State.
He assured that the command will utilize measures to curb illegal mining in the state.
“What we are going to do is to hand them to the court of law. It is the court of law that will decide their fate if they are guilty, they will have to face the full wrath of the law.”
READ: How Illegal Mining Endanger Lives, Environment In Cross River
Speaking on the effort of the State Anti- illegal Mining Taskforce in checkmating activities of mining in the state, the Chairman of the taskforce Prince Paul Effiong, said the taskforce will do their job effectively to ensure that there are no loopholes.
“We have gotten a lot of information, we are ready to do our job and we will do our work”. He frowned on some political folks that are behind illegal mining in the state saying “if mining is properly carried out it will boost the state internal revenue.”
Meanwhile, the State Controller Federal Ministry of Solid Mineral Development Engr. Ayelabola Bunmi said the Ministry will continue to educate the public on the effect of illegal mining, adding that the message is clear, “we want to embrace on proper sensitization, especially within the local governments where mining activities are taking place.”
Items seize from the suspect includes shovels, pumping machine, mining touch lights and pickaxe.
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