Jalingo -The Taraba State Special Taskforce, STF Committee on illegal mining has raided an illegal mining syndicate at the Abuja-Leather Quartz mining site in the Gashaka Local Government Area of the state.

The sting operation over the weekend also resulted in the arrest of seven individuals and the destruction of the illegal miners’ camp in the community.

Abuja-Leather is located within the Jamtari ward of Gashaka Local Government Area in Central Taraba.

According to the spokesperson of the Committee, Ibrahim Zuppai, those arrested include “Kamal A. Yusuf, aged 33, from Shagarda ARD; Sirajo Adamu, aged 51, from Kaduna State; Ibrahim Hassan, aged 35, from Gayam; Shehu Usman, aged 42, from Gombe State; Saidu Aliyu, aged 42, from Bauchi State; Yusuf Abdulkarim, aged 36, from Donnada, Lau LGA; and Adeka’a Nathaniel, aged 32, from Gazabu, Bali LGA.”

Zuppai, in a statement issued to newsmen, also said those arrested would be arraigned before a special mobile court for prosecution.

According to him, “the Chairman of the Committee, Gen. Jeremiah Aliyu Faransa (rtd) said it has become imperative for the STF to set ablaze the notorious mining site considering the fact that stern warning was made to them during the special taskforce sensitization tour to the area sometimes last year.

“Despite the sensitization across the sixteen local government of the state, the lackadaisical behaviours of illegal miners is worrisome.

“Governor Agbu Kefas had issued an executive order suspending mining activities in the state last year and the Committee’s action will serve as deterrent to those who feel they are above the law.”

Recall that Governor Kefas inaugurated the Special Taskforce Committee on June 30, 2023, with members drawn from the Nigerian Army, Police, NSCDC, Immigration and DSS.

The duty of the STF, among other responsibilities, is to enforce executive orders number three and five issued by the state governor to curtail the excesses of deforestation and mining activities in the state.