Mining Marshals, who are sent to combat illicit operations at mining sites around the country, say that security forces prevented them from arresting certain Chinese nationals involved in unlawful lithium exploitation in Libata, Ngaski Local Government Area, Kebbi State. The altercation that occurred last Friday pitted the mining marshals against military and police officers who claimed to be there to protect Chinese citizens.
The Federal Government, through Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, recently commissioned the mining marshals, a specialised unit draughted from the NSCDC, as part of efforts to combat the country’s illegal mining problem.
During the sting operation, the illegal miners temporarily relocated to their living quarters at the site, presumably after learning of the mining marshals’ raid. They were, however, dragged out and lined up for transport to Abuja by a team commanded by the Mines Marshals Commander, Attah Onoja.
The Marshals said that security officials prevented them from taking the suspects away despite having previously been cleared to do so. To prevent a breakdown in law and order, the Mining Marshals’ Commander was alleged to have quietly retired, stressing that all essential legal actions were being completed and that he would stop at nothing to ensure lawful mining activities in the area and throughout Nigeria.
Onoja indicated that they went on the operation not to cease mining activities in the region, but to confirm that people working there were properly permitted, as the information at their disposal did not identify individuals mining there previously as licence holders. The Marshals were said to have discovered vehicles connected to a corporation run by the Chinese government at the mining site.
During a phone conversation, El-TahDam Exploration’s Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Adamu Tah, claimed that his company had validly acquired a Mining Lease to operate on the site with a $50 million processing plant designed to create over 3,000 jobs, but was denied access by the Chinese, who were operating under the guise of a company and were aided by both military and mobile police.
