The Enugu State Government has arrested six people and confiscated seven trucks in Obollo-Afor, over alleged violation of its mining ban.
The arrest followed a visit to the mining site by the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Energy and Solid Minerals, Dr Kingsley Nnaji, and the Divisional Police Officer of Obollo-Afor, CSP Ignatius Attah, yesterday.
The Enugu State Government had, on September 15, prohibited mining in the state, warning that infractions of the ban would be sanctioned. Nnaji said the government sealed all illegal mining sites, few months ago, after the ban. He said the visit followed a tip off that illegal activities were still ongoing at some of the sealed sites.
“The state government is not against genuine investors, but illegal ones that have caused havoc by degrading and polluting streams from which our people fetch their drinking water. The people violated the court order against illegal mining in the state. The state government, therefore, gave another order to confiscate their vehicles and other equipment found at the sites. This was to enable them liaise with the police and the state government to do the necessary things needed for legal mining before the property would be released,” he said.
Nnaji further explained that the order included arrest of buyers of coal mined at illegal sites.
“If nobody was buying coal illicitly mined, nobody will mine. We are clamping down on illegal miners.”
Nnaji warned vehicle/equipment leasing businesses not to lease their vehicles and equipment to illegal miners, adding that if they are caught, their vehicle would be confiscated.
Also, the DPO, CSP Attah, said the police would continue to support the local and state governments in its efforts to rid the state of illegal mining. Attah said those arrested were taken to the police headquarters in Enugu, where they made statements and were subsequently detained.
“The vehicles confiscated include four trailers, one pay loader Caterpillar, one low bed and a truck,” the DPO said.