Four persons have been arrested in connection with illegal mining activities at Oketegbe area of Dangbala in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.
The Special Adviser on Security to Governor Godwin Obaseki, Haruna Yusuf, revealed this to newsmen in Benin on Thursday.
Yusuf said they were arrested by vigilantes at the mining site.
He said the persons, who were later handed over to the Edo State Police Command, were arrested for flouting government directives on illegal mining.
It would be recalled that the community had raised the alarm on the return of illegal miners to the site after the state government had shut down the place earlier in the year.
Meanwhile, the community has called for the prosecution of those arrested for illegal mining in Dangbala.
Spokesman of the community, Collins Nicholas, who spoke with newsmen, alleged that the detained suspects attacked and injured one Peter Adelabu.
Nicholas also alleged that some persons at Oketegbe were responsible for the return of illegal miners to the area.
He said those behind illegal mining in the community had also resorted to frivolous petition writing against those opposed to their activities.
According to Nicholas, illegal mining still strives in the community day and night, adding: “Those benefiting have boasted that they are untouchable.
“Those faceless petition writers are the ones destroying Dangbala.
“We are calling on all well-meaning Akoko-Edo people to speak out against this invasion and stealing of our God-given resources.
“Those already arrested should be prosecuted because we want peace and development.”
