One Suspect Dies After Arrest as Troops Raid Illegal Mining Site in Niger, 14 Apprehended

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of the 102 Guards Battalion have raided an illegal mining site in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, arresting 14 suspected illegal miners and recovering a large cache of mining equipment and other items.

Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation was conducted at about 10:30 a.m. on July 7 at an illegal mining site in Chaza following intelligence on unlawful mining activities in the area.

The sources said 14 suspected illegal miners were apprehended during the raid, while several others fled into nearby bushes on sighting the troops.

According to the sources, while the arrested suspects were being transported to the battalion for preliminary investigation, one of the detainees suddenly slumped and died.

The cause of the death has not yet been established.

Military sources said efforts were ongoing to hand over the surviving suspects, the deceased and all recovered exhibits to the Nigeria Police Force Area Command, Suleja, for further investigation and necessary legal action.

Items recovered during the operation included seven motorcycles, 23 water pumping machines, three generating sets, seven power banks, two solar panels, four washing machines, one weighing machine, 43 mobile phones, 41 MP3 players, two Point-of-Sale (POS) machines, two handheld radios, 49 torchlights and ₦138,000 in cash.

Security sources said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts under Operation MESA to combat illegal mining and other criminal activities that threaten public safety and national economic interests.

The sources added that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death and the activities of the illegal mining syndicate are ongoing.