Troops arrest 98 illegal miners in FCT, recover equipment

Troops of the 176 Guards Battalion under Operation MESA have arrested 98 suspected illegal miners during a raid on a mining site in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The development was disclosed by security analyst Zagazola Makama, who stated that the operation was carried out around 5:55 p.m. on March 23 following actionable intelligence on illegal mining activities in the area.

According to him, troops stormed the site and apprehended the suspects without resistance.

Items recovered during the operation include one vehicle, eight motorcycles, five pumping machines, 27 shovels, seven sledgehammers, 22 diggers, three head pans, five mining mats, and a sack of charcoal.

The suspects have since been handed over to the Guards Brigade Provost Group for further investigation and necessary action.

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