SIX trucks carrying illegally mined fluoride and lithium were apprehended and confiscated by the Special Taskforce Committee Members ( collaboration between Taraba State Government and the Nigerian Army).
The mineral resources were discovered in the Akwana community of the state’s Wukari Local Government Area and were being transported to Port Harcourt and Enugu when the vehicles transporting them were seized.
Jeremiah Faransa, Chairman of the Taraba Task Force Committee on unlawful Mining and Deforestation, told journalists shortly after the interception that the government will not back down as it has banned illegal mining and deforestation.
When the trucks were intercepted, the drivers were said to have abandoned them and taken to their heels.
The trucks have been turned over to the mobile court, which has been set up to try defaulters.
Faransa stated that a week ago, the Task Force team was in the same Akwana village and detained seven illegal miners, some of them were in possession of explosives.
