The Enugu State government has taken action against mining violations by arresting six individuals and impounding seven trucks in Obollo-Afor.
The arrest was made following a visit to the mining site by Dr. Kingsley Nnaji, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy and Solid Minerals, and Ignatius Attah, the Divisional Police Officer of Obollo-Afor.
The state government had imposed a ban on all mining activities in Enugu State on September 15. The governor’s aide mentioned that the visit was prompted by a tip-off indicating that illegal activities were still ongoing at some of the sealed mining sites in the state. This move reinforces the government’s commitment to enforcing the mining ban and addressing unauthorized activities in the sector.
He said: “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 to liaise with the police and the state government to do the necessary things needed for legal mining before the property would be released.”