The House majority leader, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, said miners should also register with the state government.
“Illegal mining is not exclusive to the high class alone, but cuts across the strata of our society.”
According to him, illegal mining deprives the government of royalties and taxes and also contributes to insecurity and environmental degradation.
“For instance, the security architecture that we are rejigging, we are going to inject a large measure of technology into it.”
The governor ordered security agencies to take other stringent measures against those violating the order.
He said that the efforts would also help in curbing and eliminating illegal mining activities across the country.
In a statement on Thursday, Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC’s spokesperson, said the suspects comprise a female and 12 males.
Governor Ben Ayade’s government has directed the public to cease illegal mining activities in Cross River, especially in Biase and Akamkpa local government areas.
The EFCC chief saying it is part of their responsibility to check corruption and preserve sources through which government generate revenue.
