By Deborah Coker
Benin, Jan. 8, 2022
The Edo Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), on Saturday, announced the arrest of four suspected illegal gold miners in the state.
Mr. Aniekan Udoeyop, State Commandant of the corps, announced this while briefing newsmen in his office in Benin.
Udoeyop disclosed that the suspects were arrested on Friday by NSCDC officers on patrol, in conjunction with local vigilante at Damgbala community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the suspects who were all non-indigenes of the state, by their actions, have contravened the Edo Government order and ban on mining.
He said that in view of this, the suspects would face the full weight of the law, to serve as deterrent to others who would want to engage in similar ventures.
He explained that the Edo Government banned mining in the community because of the influx of foreigners into the community and incidences bordering on insecurity in the place.
The commandant further disclosed that the suspects who have confessed to the crime however revealed that they have a ready buyer whom they sell the gold to, after mining.
He stressed that the corps was charged with protecting critical national infrastructure and would not compromise on its mandate.
Meanwhile the suspects who confessed to the crime, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were sorry for contravening the state government’s order.
They disclosed that they have a ready buyer whom they sell to at Ojirame, another community in the locality, but however, said that they went into the business to eke out a living.
NAN reports that exhibits recovered from the suspects who hail from Abuja, Kogi, Kebbi and Taraba states, include already mined substance suspected to be raw gold, shovels, head pans, diggers, and clothes among others.
