In a bid to curb illegal mining activities, over 203 young men suspected to be foreign miners have been arrested in Cross River State during a sting operation.
The operation, led by the State Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. (retd) O. U. Obono, took place early Saturday morning in Yakurr Local Government Area.
The suspects were apprehended as they attempted to bypass an army checkpoint in Ugep, traveling in several empty trucks heading toward Calabar, the state capital. Authorities discovered mining tools such as diggers, shovels, drilling machines, and other earth-drilling equipment in their possession, raising suspicions about their intentions.
Initial profiling by security officials revealed that most of the individuals, aged between 12 and 26, were non-Nigerians, hailing from Chad, Niger, and other African countries. Despite some claiming Nigerian nationality, Nigeria Immigration Service officials confirmed that many appeared to have been coached to handle arrest scenarios, pointing to organized sponsorship of their activities.
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