By Ebuka Obidinma
The National Park Service says it has arrested 19 illegal miners and that two cattle grazers have been sent to jail for illegal trespass.
Conservator of Park (CP) Emmanuel Ntuyang, the Service’s Public Relations Officer disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
He said the illegal miners were arrested in the Bani area of Oyo-Ile Range of the Park during a joint anti- poaching operation organised by men of the Old Oyo National Park and the Amotekun Vigilante, Igbeti.
In another development two cattle grazers in Gashaka Gumpti National Park have bagged 3 months jail term each without an option of fine.
The grazers were arrested in the Mayo Bakari- Bussa axis of the Park and charged for illegal entry into the Park, introduction of domestic animals into the Park and disturbance of wild flora and fauna in the Park.
Parading the illegal mining suspects, the Head of Ecology and Resource Management of the Park, Deputy Conservator of Park (DCP) Muraina Ayoola remarked that the Park Rangers are committed, and adequately equipped, to confront any form of encroachment in the park.
It would be recalled that the Conservator- General, Dr Ibrahim Goni had recently warned that miners and others involved in any form of illegal activities in Nigeria National Parks should find alternative locations, outside the Parks.
Goni had warned that the Service will not fail to apply the relevant provisions of the law, if anyone is found to contravene the National Parks Act.
The arrest of the illegal miners in the park is timely as it will stave off possible issues of insecurity in the area, as currently experienced in other illegal mining locations in some parts of the country.
Mining, logging, farming, hunting , grazing are some of the activities prohibited by the National Park Service Law.
The suspects have been handed over to the Department of State Security Service, Igbeti for further interrogation.
