In line with their mandate to help sanitise operations in the Nigerian mining sector, men of the Mining Marshals; a specialized unit drafted from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) stormed Libata mining site in Ngaski Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Friday, November 8th, 2024 to arrest some Chinese nationals allegedly said to be illegally mining lithium in the area.
Available information show that they were prevented from apprehending the illegal operators by the military and police personnel who claimed they were deployed to protect the illegal miners by higher authorities.
In a determination to tackle the menace of illegal mining and sanitise the mining sector, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake and his counterpart in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji.Ojo, in collaboration with authorities of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), recently commissioned the mining marshals.
It was gathered that El-Tahdam Exploration Limited, one of Nigeria’s pioneer lithium mining and processing companies, legally holds the mining title to the site and is in the process of building a $50 million lithium processing plant there, but the Chinese were allegedly operating under ‘a self-acclaimed’ licensee, denying El-Tahdam access.
During the sting operation, the illegal miners who ceased operation temporarily, resigned to their living quarters on the site, apparently having gotten wind of the swoop by the mining marshals. Though, they were pulled out and lined up for onward conveyance to Abuja by the team led by the mining Marshals Commander, Attah John Onoja, having identified themselves and declared their mission to the security agencies on guard duty upon arrival.
However, the accused were later spared due to the strong resistance from the same military personnel.
The marshals commander, to forestall breakdown of law and order, quietly retreated, noting that necessary steps known to law were being taken already and would stop at nothing in ensuring lawful mining activities in the area and Nigeria at large.
Confirming the illegality of the operations in Libata via a telephone conversation, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of El-TahDam Exploration, Engr Adamu Tah, said his company validly acquired a Mining Lease to operate on the site with the $50 million processing plant designed to create over 3,000 jobs, but was denied access by those Chinese who have both Military and Mobile Police detached to safeguard the them.
He said, “The Chinese, because of the illegal mining they are undertaking under a self-acclaimed’ licensee, exploiting and carting away countless tonnes of crude materials, want to frustrate our efforts to set up the processing plant there. They also have some state actors such as the Chinese embassy in strong support since the complaint letter to that effect dispatched to them remains unattended. Other local cohorts and influential figures are clearly behind their illegal act, no doubt.”
According to Tah, who affirmed that he had won the support of the host community to make his planned $50 million investment in the area, all he wanted is for the illegal occupants to vacate the site so that he could resume operations and continue with his plan to establish the processing plant.
Commenting, the mining Marshals Commander, Onoja, said they embarked on the operation not to halt mining there but to ensure that those operating there are duly licensed to do so since the information at their disposal does not capture those mining there hitherto as the licensees.
