Seven suspected illegal miners have been arrested in Minna during a late evening crackdown led by the Niger State Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Mohammed Qasim Danjuma.
The operation took place around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday behind the Bilkeb Shango area of Minna, targeting mining activities reportedly taking place within a residential community. Officials said the location posed a serious risk to lives and the environment.
During the raid, nine motorcycles allegedly used to transport equipment and mined materials were also seized. Both the suspects and the motorcycles were handed over to the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, for further investigation and prosecution.
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Commissioner Danjuma, who was accompanied by the ministry’s Director of Administration, AG M Zuma, and NSCDC operatives including the Operational Commander, said the action aligns with Governor Mohammed Umar Bago’s New Niger Agenda. The agenda focuses on sanitising the mining sector, stopping illegal operations, and improving regulation to increase state revenue and protect communities.
He warned that anyone caught engaging in illegal mining would face the full weight of the law, stressing that the government is committed to safeguarding lives, natural resources, and internally generated revenue through stricter enforcement.
The ministry said it will continue to carry out regular monitoring and enforcement across mining communities to restore order and promote responsible mining practices in the state.
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