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Troops of 176 Guards Battalion have arrested 10 suspected illegal miners during a raid on an illegal mining site in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
A counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, made this known in a statement post on X.
Makama disclosed that the operation was conducted at about 3:07 p.m. on May 20 as part of ongoing Operation MESA efforts aimed at curbing illegal mining and related criminal activities within the FCT and adjoining areas.
According to him, troops stormed the illegal mining site following intelligence reports on the activities of suspected illegal miners operating in the area.
The security expert revealed that during the raid, the troops apprehended 10 suspects believed to be involved in illegal mining activities.
He added that items recovered from the site included one motorcycle, 15 mining mats, four head pans and several other mining implements used by the suspects.
“The suspects are currently undergoing profiling and preliminary investigation for further necessary action.
“Operation formed part of intensified efforts by security agencies to clamp down on illegal mining activities, which authorities say contribute to environmental degradation, economic sabotage and insecurity in parts of the country.
“Surveillance and enforcement operations would continue across identified illegal mining locations within the FCT and neighbouring states,” he said.
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