Authorities detain seven individuals for unlawful excavation and destruction of property in Niger

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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.

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This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Minna by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun.

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Abiodun said the arrest followed the command’s “continuous effort to protect and safeguard public property” across the state.

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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.”

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He said the suspects, aged between 27 and 40 years, are from Tsauni Area of Gwagwalada, Abuja, and Lambata in Niger State.

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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.”

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Abiodun added that the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna for further investigation.

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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.

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The PRO said the command would sustain its crackdown, noting that “the fight against illegal mining and vandalism will be sustained.”

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