Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Troops of the 176 Guards Battalion have arrested a suspected illegal mining sponsor and three other suspects during a raid on illegal mining sites in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 8:30 p.m. on July 13 at Dukpa Community, following actionable intelligence obtained after the arrest of a group of illegal miners in the area on July 7.
According to the sources, troops raided identified illegal mining locations and apprehended a suspected sponsor, described as the kingpin of the operation, along with three other suspects.
During preliminary interrogation, the principal suspect allegedly confessed to sponsoring the illegal mining activities and disclosed that he recruited labourers from Katsina State to carry out illegal mining operations in the FCT.
Items recovered during the operation included one motorcycle, two digging tools, seven filter carpets, seven pumping machine nozzles, 53 wraps of suspected cannabis, ₦360,400 in cash and other mining implements.
The suspects and recovered exhibits are in custody pending further investigation and handover to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
Military sources said the operation forms part of ongoing anti-illegal mining operations under Operation MESA aimed at dismantling illegal mining networks, protecting national resources, and addressing security threats associated with illicit mining activities in the Federal Capital Territory.
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