The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake, has ordered mining marshals to seal off an illegal gold mining site in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to protect residents from environmental hazards.
Alake issued the directive on Wednesday, following fresh intelligence about unlawful activities in the area.
“Earlier this month, our marshals shut down a similar site in the District 2 Extension layout, where sixteen suspects were arrested.
“The Ministry’s Mines Inspectorate has inspected the site at Gwagwalada and confirmed full compliance with my directive. A comprehensive investigation is ongoing to identify the root causes and recommend preventive measures,” he said.
The Minister disclosed that the marshals, under ACC John Attah Onoja, have placed both sites under 24-hour surveillance until the inquiry is completed.
Alake advised residents to avoid the locations, explaining that illegal mining not only destroys the environment but also endangers lives.
He added: “We remain firm in our resolve to eradicate illegal mining nationwide. To strengthen enforcement, the Ministry is fast-tracking the deployment of satellite surveillance technology to monitor mining operations across the country.”
