Mining marshals, security forces clash over Chinese illegal miners' arrest in Kebbi

Mining Marshals deployed to stamp out illegal activities in mining sites nationwide, have claimed that they were stopped by security forces from arresting some Chinese nationals engaging in the illegal exploitation of lithium in Libata, Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The incident which occurred last Friday pitched the mining marshals against military and policemen, who claimed that they were there to protect the Chinese.

Federal Government had through the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake and Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, in collaboration with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, recently commissioned the mining marshals, a specialised unit drafted from the NSCDC as part of efforts to tackle the menace of illegal mining in the country.

During the sting operation, the illegal miners temporarily moved to their living quarters at the site, apparently having got wind of the swoop by the mining marshals. They were, however, pulled out and lined up for onward conveyance to Abuja by the team led by the mining Marshals Commander, Attah  Onoja.

The Marshals claimed that they were stopped by security officials from taking the suspects aways having been earlier cleared to carry out the operations.

The Mining Marshals' Commander, to forestall breakdown of law and order, was said to have quietly retreated, noting that necessary steps known to law were being taken and he would stop at nothing in ensuring lawful mining activities in the area and Nigeria at large.

Onoja explained that they embarked on the operation not to halt mining activities in the area but to ensure that those operating there were duly licensed, since the information at their disposal did not capture those mining there hitherto as the licensees.

At the mining site, the Marshals were alleged to have discovered the presence of vehicles belonging to a China-State owned company.

Alleging illegality of the operations in Libata via a telephone conversation,  Chief Executive Officer, of El-TahDam Exploration, Engr. Adamu Tah, said his company validly acquired a Mining Lease to operate on the site with the $50 million processing plant designed to create over 3,000 jobs, but was denied access by the Chinese under the cover of  a company and aided by both military and mobile police attached to sustain their operations.

He said: "The Chinese, because of the illegal mining they are undertaking there, exploiting and carting away countless tonnes of crude materials, want to frustrate our efforts to set up the processing plant there. They also have some state actors in strong support since the complaint letter to that effect dispatched to them remains unattended. Other local cohorts and influential figures are clearly behind their illegal act, no doubt."

According to Tah, who confirmed that he had won the support of the host community to make his planned $50 million investment in the area, all he wanted was for the illegal occupants to vacate the site so that he could resume operations and continue with his plan to establish the processing plant.