No fewer than 32 people, including two Chinese migrants, were arrested over illegal mining following a raid of the Kisi-Sooro market by the state joint security taskforce, popularly called Operation Burst, on Sunday. The arrest came after a clearance operation against illegal miners at an illegal lithium mining market in Sooro, Irepo, a local government area of the state. Ajibola attributed the successes in the fight against illegal mining to the collaboration between traditional leaders and security agencies. Aside from arresting the illegal market, Odukoya said the state government has ordered the indefinite closure of the Sooro market at Kisi. He insisted that the state government would not tolerate any act of lawlessness in any form, including illegal mining, as he tasked residents of the area not to conspire with culprits.

Source: Nigerian Tribune May 14, 2024 06:04 UTC