- Army Nab Suspected Illegal Mining Sponsor, Recover Cannabis in FCT
- During preliminary interrogation, the principal suspect allegedly admitted to sponsoring the illegal mining activities
- Items recovered during the operation included one motorcycle, two digging tools, seven filter carpets, seven pumping machine nozzles, 53 wraps of suspected cannabis, ₦360,400 in cash, and other mining equipment
Troops of the 176 Guards Battalion have arrested a suspected illegal mining kingpin and three other suspects during a raid on illegal mining sites in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Eko Hot Blog reports that the operation, conducted under Operation MESA, followed intelligence gathered after the arrest of a group of illegal miners in the area on July 7.
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Security analyst Zagazola Makama, who disclosed the development in a post on X on Wednesday night, said the raid was carried out at about 8:30 p.m. on July 13 in Dukpa Community, where troops stormed identified illegal mining sites.
According to the report, the troops arrested a suspected sponsor believed to be the leader of the illegal mining operation alongside three other suspects.
During preliminary interrogation, the principal suspect allegedly admitted to sponsoring the illegal mining activities and revealed that he recruited labourers from Katsina State to carry out the operations in the FCT.
Items recovered during the operation included one motorcycle, two digging tools, seven filter carpets, seven pumping machine nozzles, 53 wraps of suspected cannabis, ₦360,400 in cash, and other mining equipment.
Military sources quoted in the report said the suspects and recovered exhibits remain in military custody pending further investigation before being handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
The operation forms part of ongoing anti-illegal mining efforts under Operation MESA, aimed at dismantling illegal mining networks, protecting the nation’s mineral resources and addressing security threats associated with illegal mining activities in the Federal Capital Territory.
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