Olamilekan Adegbite, the Minister of mines and steel development, has revealed that some influential people are mounting pressure on the federal government to free some Chinese nationals who were arrested for illegal mining of Gold in Osun state.
Recall that the police paraded some Chinese nationals days back following their arrest for illegal mining of gold in Osun state.
The Minister who addressed newsmen in Abuja said the Coronavirus pandemic is responsible for the surge in illegal gold mining activities in the country. He also accused some soldiers of aiding illegal mining.
Adegbite said;
“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.
“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.”
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