The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), has arrested three suspects for alleged illegal gold mining in Mallam Jakwa Town, Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State.

The EFCC disclosed this in a statement shared on its Facebook page on Tuesday, noting that the suspects were apprehended following actionable intelligence.

According to the agency, the suspects — Umar Muhammad, Modu Bamai Umar, and Sani Samaila — were involved in unlawful mining activities said to be exacerbating insecurity and environmental degradation in the state.

“Operatives of the Maiduguri Zonal Directorate of the EFCC have arrested three suspected illegal gold miners in Borno State,” the statement read.

“They were arrested in Mallam Jakwa Town, Hawul Local Government Area, following actionable intelligence on their illegal activities.

“The suspects are Umar Muhammad, Modu Bamai Umar, and Sani Samaila. Their activities are worsening insecurity and environmental degradation in the state.”

The commission added that exhibits recovered from the suspects included mined gold and a small gold measuring machine.

The development comes weeks after the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the commission arrested 10 suspected illegal miners along the Ilorin–Ogbomosho area of Kwara State.

The agency had said the suspects were apprehended based on credible intelligence on unlawful mining activities across parts of Kwara and Oyo states.

Similarly, on February 1, the Zamfara State Police Command arrested 21 illegal miners in Zurmi and Maradun Local Government areas of the state.

The spokesperson for the command, Yazid Abubakar, had stated that the illegal miners were arrested in a joint operation comprising officers of the Anti-Illegal Mining Unit, Tactical Unit, and Bomb Disposal Unit of the command.

Abubakar said other participants in the joint operation included personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Gusau Area Office. (The PUNCH)