The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says its mining marshal unit has shut down an illegal quarrying site operating within the Kuje area council of the federal capital territory (FCT).
Attah Onoja, the commander of the mining marshals, said in a statement that 13 suspects were arrested in connection with the unlawful mining activities.
Onoja said the suspects were found to be working for a company that had allegedly occupied and exploited a quarry lease belonging to another licensed mining firm for over seven months without legal backing.
He said the operation underscored the NSCDC’s commitment to zero tolerance for illegality in the Nigerian mining sector.
“We will not allow any individual or company to take the law into their own hands or deprive legitimate operators of their lawful rights.” the statement reads.
The shutdown of the Kuje site comes amid rising concerns over the growing number of unlicensed and unregulated mining operations in Abuja, the nation’s capital, particularly in remote or peri-urban areas where enforcement has been traditionally weak.
Onoja cautioned all operators to ensure full compliance with existing mining and environmental laws or risk facing the full weight of the law.
“Let this serve as a warning to all illegal operators. The era of impunity in the mining sector is over. We will continue to identify, investigate, and prosecute all violators, no matter how remote or discreet their operations may be,” he said.
According to him, th 13 suspects are currently in custody and will be arraigned in court in the coming days as investigations continue.
