Illegal mining: NSCDC arrests 12 suspects, impounds trucks

<p>The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 12 suspects for conveying solid minerals from Kaduna State and Plateau to Port Harcourt in Rivers without relevant permits.</p>, <p>The Commandant of NSCDC in Edo, Mr Samuel Dan, disclosed this on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Abuja.</p>, <p>According to him, recently, my command has arrested 12 suspects in connection with conveying solid minerals (conza stones, iron ore and coal), without relevant permits.</p>, <p>Dan added that his command impounded four trucks.</p>, <p>He said that when the vehicles were stopped, it was discovered that they neither had their waybills nor licences permitting them to deal on mining.</p>, <p>“So, we saw them as people who were illegally conveying solid minerals or illegally dealing with them for some one.</p>, <p>“For you to deal on solid minerals, you need a permit, the approval of government and permission from the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals before you are even given a mining site,” commandant said.</p>, <p>According to him, mining is a source of revenue to the Nigerian Government and if those engaging in illegal mining and solid minerals are left to continue, they will be defrauding the government.</p>, <p>” So, it is based on this that we impound the vehicles.</p>, <p>“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.</p>, <p>“We are taking every necessary step to forestall any planned acts of terrorism, particularly criminal activities aimed at depriving citizens of their property and lives.”</p>, <p>Dan, who called on the Federal Government to regulate the activities of miners, said government should not fold its arms without controlling the activities of miners.</p>, <p>According to him, it has been established that about 22, 000 weapons of mass destruction are related to mining, construction and medical.</p>, <p>“So, if we are talking of security in the country, those