Some influential Nigerians have been putting pressure on the Federal Government to release some Chinese citizens arrested for illegal mining in Osun State.
This was revealed by the Minister of Mines and Steel development, Olamilekan Adegbite who spoke to journalists in Abuja.
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27 people were arrested in Osun State on Monday for illegal mining; 17 of those arressted were Chinese nationals.
Adegbite noted that the surge in illegal mining across the country is caused by the COVID-19 pandemic while reiterating that the Federal Government will not tolerate any form of Illegal mining in the country.
The Minister also accused Nigeria Army soldiers of aiding and abetting illegal mining in the country.
“Nigerians in high positions of authority [are behind them]. The Chinese are the main culprits in the illegal mining activities and we are going to meet with the Chinese embassy. We are going to present all the facts to them so that it will not appear as if we are targeting them unfairly,” he said.
“These godfathers were operating with impunity before, but they are now scared because the arrested illegal miners are naming names but they (godfathers) are denying. The law is on our side and we must prosecute these people to serve as a deterrent.”