Four Chinese nationals have been arrested in Niger State for allegedly operating an unauthorised mining site in Maiya’aki village, Lapai Local Government Area.
The arrests followed an order by the Niger State Government after the Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Muhammad Danjuma, conducted an on-the-spot inspection of the mining location.
The commissioner’s intervention came after the Emir of Lapai, Umar Bago Tafida III, received reports concerning suspected mining activities allegedly being carried out by foreign nationals in the community.
Following the reports, the emir directed the district head of Abugi, Mohammed Mustapha, also known as Chiroma Lapa, and his entourage to visit the site.
The traditional authorities were tasked with establishing the identities of the operators and determining whether they had obtained the necessary licences and approvals to carry out mining activities in the area.
During the preliminary visit, the traditional authorities reportedly discovered that the mining activities were not known to the state government.
The matter was subsequently brought to the attention of the Commissioner for Mineral Resources, who visited the site to investigate the situation.
Chinese operators allegedly fail to produce licences
At the mining site, the Chinese nationals were reportedly unable to produce valid licences and permits authorising their mining operations when requested by the commissioner.
Following the development, Danjuma ordered the arrest of four of the operators and directed that the remaining operators stay at the site.
He also ordered that the property and mining equipment at the location be secured pending further investigation into the activities.
The four arrested suspects were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for investigation and appropriate action.
The arrests form part of the Niger State Government’s ongoing crackdown on unauthorised mining activities across the state.
In August, the Commissioner for Mineral Resources warned individuals, companies and groups involved in illegal mining to immediately halt their operations or face arrest and prosecution.
The state government also reiterated that mining operators must obtain the required licences and approvals before commencing operations.
Government intensifies enforcement operations
The Niger State Government has stepped up enforcement against suspected illegal mining activities in different parts of the state in recent months.
In June, authorities shut down six suspected illegal mineral processing sites in Kontagora Local Government Area during an operation carried out in collaboration with NSCDC Mining Marshals.
Earlier in May, seven suspects were arrested during an enforcement operation targeting alleged illegal mining activities in a residential area of Minna.
Nine motorcycles believed to have been used in the alleged activities were also confiscated during the operation.
In April, the state government arrested two Chinese nationals at the Zuzungi mining site in Katcha Local Government Area over alleged unauthorised mining activities.
The two suspects were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation.
The latest development in Lapai comes amid broader concerns over illegal mining across Nigeria, particularly activities involving operators who allegedly fail to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals.
In June, 15 Chinese nationals and nine Nigerians were arraigned in Abuja over alleged illegal lithium mining in Nasarawa State.
Illegal mining has continued to attract the attention of government and security agencies because of concerns over environmental degradation, revenue losses and the activities of unregulated operators.
In Niger State, the Ministry of Mineral Resources is responsible for regulating and monitoring mining activities while promoting the sustainable exploration and exploitation of the state’s mineral resources in line with Nigeria’s mining laws.
The latest action in Lapai signals a further escalation of the state government’s campaign against unauthorised mining and its efforts to ensure that operators comply with established regulatory requirements.
