No less than 109 alleged illegal miners have been taken into custody by the Nasarawa State Police Command as they were working in the state’s Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area.
State Commissioner of Police Umar Nadada made the announcement Tuesday while presenting the suspects at the police area command in Lafia, the state capital. He said that the suspects were apprehended after diligent work by command personnel from the anti-kidnapping unit working with the Nasarawa Eggon LGA Vigilante group.
He clarified that the kidnappers utilise the stretch of Alogani Mountain as a hideaway to hold their captives until a ransom is paid, and that this is where the operation started, starting from Mada station and ending in Wakama hamlet.
Nadada went on to explain that the 109 suspects were apprehended at various points on the mountain for engaging in illicit solid mineral mining, including the mining of topaz, tin, and aquamarine. Among the items taken from the suspects as evidence were knives, cutlasses, and dane guns.
“Yesterday, February 19, 2024, at about 6am, the anti-kidnapping unit of the command in collaboration with vigilante groups from the Nasarawa Eggon LGA engaged in a massive raid of some criminal hideouts at Alogani hills in Nasarawa Eggon LGA.
“They raided from Mada station to Wakama area to arrest suspected kidnappers. Unfortunately, some of them ran away but we were able to arrest some illegal miners, about 109 of them who are here.
“We immediately took them into custody and we have commenced an investigation. We are ready to partner with the state government to ensure that these illegal miners are profiled and then further necessary actions will follow,” he said.
cc: Punch Ng
