The federal government has shut down an illegal mining site at Guabe in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of its efforts to combat illegal mining.

Officials of the Mining Marshal Corp, inaugurated on March 21 by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, carried out the operation to secure the mining environment and sanitise the sector.

The corp has 2,220 personnel specially trained as a rapid response squad and deployed across the 36 states and the FCT.

The minister’s media aide, Segun Tomori, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja that three suspects were arrested during the operation.

According to the statement, the operation led by the corps commander, John Attah, was successful due to meticulous intelligence gathering and surveillance.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects lacked any documentation authorising their mining activities on the site.

“Furthermore, a legitimate mining company with the necessary permits for the same location was unable to access the site due to the illegal miners’ activities and resistance,” said the statement.

It quoted the commander as saying that the development would not be tolerated because it displaces lawful miners and investors from performing legitimate operations.

According to the statement, the suspects confessed to the offence and admitted to operating on the site for over a year.

It said that about 2,000 tonnes of lithium were found on-site when the suspects were apprehended, underscoring the magnitude of the illegal operation.

It said the seized minerals and equipment on site had been marked as exhibits for prosecution, and further investigations were ongoing to uncover the extent of the illegal activities.

(NAN)