Park rangers arrest 19 illegal miners at old Oyo National Park

The National Park Service has arrested 19 suspected illegal miners at the old Oyo National Park.

The service’s spokesman, Mr Emmanuel Ntuyang, stated in Abuja on Friday that the illegal miners were arrested in the Bani area of Oyo-Ile range of the park.

The arrest was effected during a joint anti-poaching operation by men of the Old Oyo National Park and those of Amotekun Vigilance Corps, the Southwest security organisation, stationed at Igbeti, Oyo State.

“The arrest of the illegal miners is timely as it will stave off possible issues of insecurity in the area, as experienced in other illegal mining locations in 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 interrogations,” he stated.

He added that two cattle grazers arrested at the Gashaka Gumti National Park straddling Taraba and Adamawa have bagged three months jail term each, without the option of fine.

“The grazers were arrested at the Mayo Bakari- Bussa axis of the park and charged with illegal entry, introduction of domestic animals into the park and disturbance of wild flora and fauna,” he stated.