The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, has apprehended 10 suspected illegal miners and their accomplices and at different locations in the state.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Augustine Padonu said this while parading the suspects at the command’s Headquarters, Agodi, Ibadan on Tuesday.
Padonu said that the suspects were nabbed for alleged illegal exploration and mining of Tourmaline and solid minerals without licence at Elese Erin Village in Ona-Ata Local Government area of the state
The commandant said the suspects were arrested for illegal possession and purchase of lithium minerals.
He said the team of NSCDC arrested some of the suspects who specialised in mining of solid minerals resources such as lithium, beryllium among others which were being conveyed in different vehicles by four of the suspects.
Padonu said that four of the suspects were arrested with buses load of lithium minerals at Ipapo town in Itesiwaju Local Government area of the state without licence to purchase and posses the products.
” The intercepted buses are Toyota Hiace with registration number MNY 811 YN,Toyota Hiace with registration number LSD 136 XG and Mazda E2200 with registration number LSD 321 XN,” he said.
The Commandant urged the members of the public to be vigilant, more security conscious and provide useful information to the corps and other security agencies in the state in order to curb crimes in the state.
He said that the arrested suspects would be charged to court if found wanting after completion of investigation.(NAN)
