By Oluwatosin Maliki
The Nigerian Army in partnership with the Taraba State Government has intercepted and confiscated a total of six trucks which were conveying illegally mined Fluoride and Lithium.
Quest Times gathered that the solid minerals were explored from Akwana community in the Wukari Local Government Area of the state and were transporting them to Port Harcourt and Enugu when the trucks carrying them were intercepted.
The Chairman, Taraba Task Force Committee on Illegal Mining and Deforestation, Jeremiah Faransa, while briefing newsmen shortly after the interception, noted that the government won’t relent despite the ban on illegal mining and deforestation.
It was learnt that the drivers of the trucks had absonded, as they abandoned the trucks and taken to their heels when intercepted.
Meanwhile, the trucks have been handed over to the mobile court which isset up to try defaulters.
Furthermore, the chairman narrated that a week ago, the Task Force team were equally in the same Akwana community where they apprehended seven illegal miners with some of them in possession of explosives.
He stated, “Security is a collective responsibility and this (interception) was as a result of collaboration between the special taskforce team and the military strike force.”
According to Faransa, the trucks were moved to Jalingo, the state capital, from where they were intercepted after the drivers took to their heels.
Consequently, he warned, ”Whoever is involved in this dastard act will be dealt with severely and we will be handing over these trucks to the mobile court for prosecution”.
”Akwana is notorious for illegal mining and their is no amount of efforts we have not put to adhere to the ban directive but they are defiant, however we will change our strategy to ensure sanity,” he added.