By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Nigeria Union of Mine Workers (NUMW) and the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Niger State have expressed...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Nigeria Union of Mine Workers (NUMW) and the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Niger State have expressed their dismay over a recent raid by Nigerian police officers on gold dealers in Minna, resulting in the arrest of eleven individuals and the confiscation of their properties.
The two groups conveyed their frustration during a joint meeting held at the NUMW state secretariat on Monday. In his statement, the Chairman of NUMW, Comrade Musa Adamu Nasko, highlighted the government's launch of a task force committee, the MARUFAWA Concept, aimed at identifying companies and generating tax revenue for the state.
However, he criticized the police raid on their dealers, stating, "We have cooperated with the government, yet police officers from the Area Command in Minna raided our traders and confiscated their properties and tools."
He added, "This meeting aims to address the police intrusion. Should we pay the registration fees mandated by the state government or dues to the Nigerian Police? We are cooperating with the company responsible for managing the project, but the police are undermining our efforts."
The chairman reported that bail had been paid for one of the arrested individuals, amounting to between ninety-four and ninety-six thousand naira. However, he lamented that many confiscated goods, including money, gold, and work equipment, need to be returned to their rightful owners.
Hon. Yusuf Shu'aibu Mami, the acting chairman of the MAN Association in Niger State, urged both organizations to support the state government in registering with these companies to obtain certification and approval. He emphasized the importance of adhering to government laws and regulations.
Regarding the police intrusion, the groups deemed it unlawful, questioning the jurisdiction of the police over miners. They expressed concern about the money confiscated and vowed to seek legal counsel to protect the reputation of their members.
Investigations revealed that before the task force's launch, shop owners were paying a monthly fee of #750,000 for Operation Flush. Now, under the new structure, assessed individuals will pay the state government fifty thousand naira annually, while others will pay five thousand naira monthly.
Our correspondent's investigation also indicated that this incident marks the fourth time security forces have attacked miners since the state government lifted the ban.
Barrister Sulaiman, the lawyer representing MARUFAWA Concepts, encouraged cooperation with the state government, assuring that they would work to prevent future incidents and recover the confiscated items.
The CEO of MARUFAWA Concept distanced his company from any collaboration with the police during the raid. He expressed a commitment to fostering good relations with NUMW and MAN, emphasizing the need for their members to support their organizations and obtain membership cards for defence against any wrongful actions by police or government officials.
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