Troops of the 176 Guards Battalion have arrested a suspected illegal mining kingpin and three other suspects during a raid on illegal mining sites in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The operation was carried out on July 13 at Dukpa Community following intelligence gathered after the arrest of a group of suspected illegal miners in the area on July 7.
Acting on the intelligence, the troops raided several identified illegal mining locations and arrested a man believed to be the sponsor and coordinator of the illegal operation, alongside three accomplices.
During preliminary interrogation, the principal suspect allegedly confessed to financing the illegal mining activities. He also reportedly told investigators that he recruited labourers from Katsina State to carry out the operations in the FCT.
The troops recovered one motorcycle, two digging tools, seven filter carpets, seven pumping machine nozzles, 53 wraps of suspected cannabis, ₦360,400 in cash, and other mining equipment believed to have been used in the illegal operation.
The suspects and the recovered items remain in military custody pending further investigation before they are handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.
Military sources said the operation forms part of ongoing anti-illegal mining efforts under Operation MESA, which aims to dismantle illegal mining networks, safeguard Nigeria’s mineral resources, and address security threats linked to illicit mining activities in the Federal Capital Territory.
