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FG Reveals ‘Influential’ Nigerians Backing Arrested Illegal Chinese Miners
The federal government says some influential Nigerians have been fingered in illegal mining following the arrest Chinese nationals bordering on the activities.
On Monday, the Osun government announced the arrest of 27 persons for illegal mining of gold. It said 17 out of those arrested were Chinese nationals.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Minister of mines and steel development, Olamilekan Adegbite, said some influential Nigerians were mounting pressure on the federal government to release the arrested Chinese nationals.
He said the Chinese enjoyed the support of Nigerians in high position.
Adegbite, however, reaffirmed the government commitment to ending any form of illegal mining.
He vowed that the Chinese would be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to others, adding that the Chinese had started mentioning names of their backers.
The minister added that the COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for the surge in illegal gold mining activities in the country.
“Nigerians in high positions of authority [are behind them]. The Chinese are the main culprits in the illegal mining activities and we are going to meet with the Chinese embassy. We are going to present all the facts to them so that it will not appear as if we are targeting them unfairly,” he said.
“These godfathers were operating with impunity before, but they are now scared because the arrested illegal miners are naming names but they (godfathers) are denying. The law is on our side and we must prosecute these people to serve as a deterrent.”
The minister also accused some soldiers of aiding the illegal activity.
The arrested Chinese miners
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