*Photo: Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Attah Onoja(centre) and other officials during the enforcement exercise*
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, on Wednesday directed the Mining Marshals to seal off an illegal gold mining site in the Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) .
The Minister’s directive followed an earlier operation by the marshals on August 16, 2025, which led to the recovery and sealing of another illegal mining site around the District 2 Extension layout in Gwagwalada.
Sixteen suspects arrested during that operation are set to face prosecution.
The Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, said in a press statement that preliminary investigations revealed that illegal artisanal miners invaded the area after the accidental discovery of a gold vein during the digging of a soakaway pit near a residential property.
The most recent incident took place on farmland located behind CKC in Gwagwalada.
Tomori said: “Upon receiving intelligence reports of renewed unlawful mining activity, Dr. Alake promptly ordered the deployment of mining marshals to secure the site.”
Conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the area on Wednesday, ministry officials led by the Director of Mines Inspectorate, represented by the Deputy Director, Sunday Okhuoya, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance with the minister’s directive, disclosing that relevant departments of the ministry have launched a thorough investigation to unravel the root of these incidents whilst recommending measures to prevent a recurrence.
Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Attah Onoja, said his team has established 24-hour surveillance over both affected sites, pending the outcome of the Federal Government’s ongoing inquiry.
