…As commissioner storms Irutuba Village
The Kogi State Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources has intensified its campaign against unlawful extraction, raiding an unauthorised gold mining site in Irutuba Village, Okene Local Government Area, and taking two suspects into custody.
The enforcement operation, led by Abubakar Bashir Gegu, commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, resulted in the arrest of Abdulrahaman Nuhuramat and Yusuf Ramat. Both individuals were apprehended directly at the site on community land and subsequently transferred to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for investigation and prosecution.
Speaking at the scene of the alleged crime, Gegu stated that the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal mining, characterising the practice as economic sabotage that damages the local environment and destabilises host communities.
He issued a warning to unauthorised operators throughout the state, emphasising that Kogi’s natural resources must be developed through legitimate channels for the state’s economic benefit rather than exploited unlawfully.
He said: “Let this be a warning to all illegal miners across Kogi State. This government will find you wherever you are. Our mineral resources must be harnessed legally for the prosperity of our people, not looted by criminal elements”.
Adams Shaibu Irutuba, the Village Head of Irutuba, welcomed the government’s intervention, noting that unauthorised mining and land grabbing by non -residents have caused significant disturbance to the community.
He appealed to the state government for an increased security presence to prevent ongoing trespass and protect local farmlands from environmental degradation.
Responding, Gegu assured community leaders that their security concerns would be presented to the governor and pledged continued collaboration with law enforcement agencies to protect landholder rights , as he called on other traditional rulers across Kogi State to pro-actively report illegal mining activities within their jurisdictions.
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