The Plateau State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested 15 suspected illegal miners, including minors.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, ASC Ruth Rimvyok, disclosed this to journalists on Wednesday in Jos.

She explained that the suspects were arrested in Bukuru, Jos South Local Government Area of the state.

She stated, “NSCDC has the mandate to protect critical national assets, and as part of Executive Order 001 issued by the Plateau State government, we have noticed a rise in illegal mining being done around critical national assets. More disheartening is the fact that minors are being used to carry out these illegal mining activities in the state. We have arrested 15 suspects, with 13 of them being minors. We want to warn those using these minors for this illegal act to desist henceforth or face the full wrath of the law.’’

Ms Rimvyok called on parents to discourage their wards from engaging in the illegal activity, insisting that anyone caught would not be spared.

Speaking, the Federal Mines Officer in charge of the North-Central Zone, Ahmed Mohammed, said that the arrest was in collaboration with his office.

Mr Mohammed, who decried the spate of illegal mining in homes, said that mining operations were regulated by the federal government.

He said, “We now have an unfortunate trend in Jos; people are mining inside their buildings, in some cases, even in their bedrooms. People should know that mining is a regulated business under Nigeria’s Minerals and Mining Act 2007. Nobody has the right to conduct mining anywhere without a licence, so people should obtain the right licences to mine in areas that are allowed. We will not condone illegal mining in any part of the state, and so we urge communities to embrace the opening provided by the government and do mining in a legal way.’’

The officer said that owners of the property who allowed illegal mining operations on their facilities would be arrested.

(NAN)