The Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Special Mines Surveillance Task Force on Illegal Mining has revealed that it has arrested no fewer than 500 illegal miners in Ondo State.
The Mine Officer for the state, Mr Silas Godwin, disclosed that the task force collaborated with the State Government.
He stated that the suspects were arrested in Popoola Ehinoke village in the Ile-Oluji/Oke Igbo Local Government Area.
Godwin said, “We swung into action on receiving a tip-off and we arrested 500 people working without the Ministry of Mines’ authorisation.
READ ALSO: Nigerian miners accuse IOCs of economic sabotage
“From the information, we gathered from them, they were prospecting for gold.
“The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Olamilekan Adegbite, in conjunction with security agencies, are committed to get these people brought to book.”
