The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 12 suspects for conveying solid minerals from Kaduna and Plateau to Port Harcourt in Rivers without relevant permits.

The commandant of NSCDC in Edo, Samuel Dan, disclosed this on Sunday in an interview at Abuja.

“My command has arrested 12 suspects in connection with conveying solid minerals (conza stones, iron ore and coal) without relevant permits,” he said.

Mr Dan added that his command has also impounded four trucks.

He said that when the vehicles were stopped, it was discovered that they neither had their waybills nor licences permitting them to deal in mining.

“So, we saw them as people who were illegally conveying solid minerals or illegally dealing with them for someone.

“For you to deal in solid minerals, you need a permit, the government’s approval and permission from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals before you are even given a mining site,” the commandant said.

According to him, mining is a source of revenue for the Nigerian government, and if those engaging in illegal mining and solid minerals are left to continue, they will be defrauding the government.

” So, it is based on this that we impound the vehicles.

“Investigation is ongoing now, and we have given them rooms to make available their permits and licences, and if any of them does, then we free them,” Mr Dan said. 

Mr Dan called on the federal government to regulate the activities of miners and not fold its arms without controlling the activities of miners.

According to him, it has been established that about 22,000 weapons of mass destruction are related to mining, construction and medicine.

“It is good for the government to regulate the activities of miners who are involved in explosives, especially now that most of these activities are carried out by foreigners,” he said.

(NAN)