Men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, have raided an illegal gold mining site and destroyed a large wooden boat used for siphoning crude oil in two separate operations aimed at curbing economic sabotage in the country.
The first operation took place in the Ogunlepa, Oluwa Forest Reserve, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, where Mining Marshals apprehended four individuals engaged in unlawful gold mining.
The suspects, caught red-handed in the Government Reserved Area, confessed to not having the necessary licenses or authorization to conduct their operations.
Following their arrest, the suspects were charged to the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they now face serious legal repercussions under the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act.
The Mining Marshal AJ Onoja, who led the raid, issued a stern warning to those still involved in illegal mining activities.
He urged them to regularize their operations in accordance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, stressing that the Federal Government’s resolve to enforce the law is unwavering.
The boat, capable of carrying over 200,000 liters of siphoned crude oil, was a critical asset for criminal networks involved in the illicit trade of the nation’s oil resources.
