3 arraigned over illegal mining in Niger

Three persons, Abdulhadi Dalhatu, Abdulgafar Isyaku and Suleiman Mohammed, have been arraigned before a Minna magistrates’ court on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, trespassing, illegal mining and mischief.

The prosecutor, Inspector Jibrin Ahmed, told the court that one Garba Salihu, a security man at the Federal Government College (FGC), Minna, reported at the Chanchaga Divisional Police Station that the accused were engaged in illegal mining on the FGC land, and in the process caused damages to the land and also vandalised a water pipe.

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All the accused pleaded guilty to illegal mining and blamed it on lack of job, but denied causing damage to the water pipe.

The magistrate, Mrs Samira Zakari Wambai, ruled that the prosecutor should provide proof that the accused caused damage to the water pipe and adjourned the trial to March 1, 2022.