The Taraba State Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce on Monday arrested two suspected illegal miners during a raid on a gold mining site at Mayo Kam in Gantu Village, Bali Local Government Area.
Chairman of the taskforce, Mr Emmanuel Jamu, told journalists in Jalingo that the operation was carried out after several weeks of intelligence gathering.
According to him, security operatives navigated difficult terrain to access the remote mining site. However, most of the suspected illegal miners fled into nearby forests before the team arrived.
Jamu said two suspects were apprehended while attempting to escape during the operation.
He added that the taskforce recovered several items allegedly used for illegal mining, including pumping machines, digging equipment, generators and mineral processing materials.
“We want to send a clear message. Whether they are there or not, we will keep trying. They can run today, but they cannot run forever. They will face the full weight of the law,” he said.
The chairman appealed to traditional rulers and community leaders to support the taskforce by providing credible intelligence that would aid the arrest of other suspects still at large.
He said the two arrested suspects were in custody, adding that the taskforce would sustain its operations in other identified high-risk areas across the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Taraba State Government on June 19 suspended all mining activities across the state over security concerns. The government subsequently inaugurated the Anti-Illegal Mining Taskforce to enforce the directive.
