The Niger State Police Command has arrested seven suspects for alleged illegal mining and vandalism of government property at Gurara Waterfalls in Gurara Local Government Area of the state.
This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Minna by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun.
Abiodun said the arrest followed the command’s “continuous effort to protect and safeguard public property” across the state.
According to him, “On March 22, at about 5:00 p.m., based on a report of illegal mining and vandalism at Gurara Waterfalls, police operatives attached to Gawu-Babangida Division conducted a sting operation within the facility and arrested seven suspects.”
He said the suspects, aged between 27 and 40 years, are from Tsauni Area of Gwagwalada, Abuja, and Lambata in Niger State.
The police spokesman listed items recovered from them to include “two water pump engines, 14 carpets, six shovels, three diggers, two pipes and seven head pans.”
Abiodun added that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation.
He further disclosed that “on March 17, at about 4:00 p.m., a similar raid was carried out in the same facility, and eight suspects were arrested,” with exhibits including 13 shovels and six diggers recovered.
The PRO said the command would sustain its crackdown, noting that “the fight against illegal mining and vandalism will be sustained.”
NAN
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