The Federal Government has said that two illegal mining companies, Solid Unit Limited and Geotess Nigeria Limited, which were shut down in Zurak, Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State last month, had illegally taken out minerals worth over N100 billion in the past few years that they have been involved in illegal mining activities in the area.
The minister of mines and steel development, Kayode Fayemi, disclosed this during a recent meeting with staff of the ministry in Abuja.
Sixteen Chinese nationals and eight Nigerians involved in massive illegal mining were arrested in Zurak on August 15 in the wake of the shutting down of the two companies.
They were shut down on the orders of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, and the minister when they visited some illegal mining sites in the richly endowed lead/zinc belt.
The chairman of Solid Unit Limited, Usman Abubakar, also known as Dan China, and who is regarded as the most notorious illegal miner in the state, was declared wanted by the NSA afterwards.
He was also ordered to be arrested by all security agencies for acts seen as economic sabotage.
Zurak is a key location of substantial mineral deposits, notably lead, zinc, copper, tin, wolframite, tantalite and other base metals.
Over time, large scale illegal mining activities have been recorded around the area, leading to huge losses of revenue, minable land and social displacement of rural communities.
Fayemi, in the meeting attended by all cadre of the workers in the ministry, said the huge scale of illegal mining by the two companies in Wase was tantamount to economic terrorism, adding that government was determined to confront anyone or group that are out to sabotage the economy through illegal mining and other means.
He said the scale of illegal mining perpetrated by the two blacklisted companies and their foreign collaborators was enormous, stressing further that the companies used very sophisticated equipment, including a tunnels with rail track and other heavy machines for their illegal operations.
He said the arrested Nigerians have been in active connivance with foreigners to carry out massive illegal mining in the state, thereby depriving the country of revenue.
“Their unwholesome activities have also led to environmental degradation and abandoned mine pits,” he said.
The minister said the leadership of the ministry carried out the operation that led to the closure of the illegal mining companies/sites and the arrest of its operatives in a discreet manner, because the massive network of collaborators and informants at the disposal of the companies, as well as their illegality was unacceptable.
According to him,“we didn’t want to leave anything to chance, so it was done discreetly,” adding that it was a successful operation, which had also restored sanity to the area that had been under siege from illegal miners and criminal elements for years.
The arrested Nigerians and their foreign collaborators were been handed over to the newly inaugurated mines division of the Nigerian police for prosecution.
Fayemi said the ministry would adopt its own whistle blowing arrangement in order to encourage more information on illegal mining activities in the sector.
He however assured that the ministry would continue to guide and provide both technical and financial supports genuine artisanal and small scale miners, who abide by the rules and regulations guiding the sector.
