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A number of illegal mining activities have been going on in Nigeria and the Osun state government have arrested 17 Chinese in connection to that in Oshogbo. Those arrested also include a traditional chief and nine locals in the state bringing the number up to 27.
Abdullahi Binuyo, the governor’s deputy chief of staff in Osun state commented on the arrest which the Joint Task Force (JTF) carried out. He said the arrest took place during a coordinated sting operation in Ilesa and Ife districts.
The illegal mining by the Chinese has a number of failures to it like economic losses and the pollution of rivers with poisonous metals.
More so, Binuyo’s statement explains that the miners do not have any authorization and have no government registration.
The Chinese did, however, claim to have an Exploration Licences, but it is not a permit to mine in Nigeria. It only allows foreigners to search for a country for possible sediments on lands. The locals also claim not to know what they were engaging in.
The 17 Chinese arrested for illegal mining will be prosecuted mostly for polluting the rivers, but also for breaking lockdown.
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