By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue Police Command has arraigned four persons including two Chinese nationals suspected to be illegal miners before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court for criminal conspiracy, act of terrorism, as well as defiling government directive which stopped illegal mining activities in the state.
Prosecuting police officer, Inspector Godwin Ato, informed the court that the suspects, Yang Wang Zing, Shi Zing, Debra Ihedora and Yunusa Wada; all of different addresses were arrested by men of Operation Zenda JTF led by John Ahemba, while on patrol at Nyor-duku village, Jato-aka in Kwande Local Government Area to curtail activities of illegal miners in the state.
He further explained that the two suspects Chinese nationals and two Nigerians were arrested on a mining site along Kashimbilla road, excavating mineral resources thereby defying the orders of the Benue State government which earlier ban all forms of illegal mining in the state.
Inspector Ato also told the court that items recovered from the suspects included a truckload of black stone, adding that during police investigation the suspects confessed committing the crime.
When the case came up, the plea of the suspects for leniency was rejected while prosecution stated that investigation was ongoing and asked for adjournment.
Ruling, the chief magistrate Kelvin Mbanongon, ordered that the suspects be remanded at the federal correctional center Makurdi, and adjourned the case to June 4 for further mention.