The Chairman of the Taskforce on implementation of ban on illegal mining and deforestation, Brig.-Gen. Jeremiah Faransa (Retired) said it has prosecuted 46 persons who have been convicted for violating environmental law and illegal mining in the state.
Faransa revealed this on Thursday in Jalingo, adding that the mobile court convicted the culprits for illegally felling and processing trees from different parts of the state as well as illegal mining.
According to him, 39 were convicted for illegal cutting of trees, seven for illegal mining.
He said the government has suspended all login and mining activities in the state, pending the production of guidelines, adding that the Taskforce had already visited most of the mining sites in the state, and discovered serious infractions in the mining operations.
Faransa said the Taskforce had also impounded over 100 trucks transporting different kinds of wood out of the state.
“Adequate sensitisation has been made on this new policy and whoever claims ignorance, will face the full wrath of the law because ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
“We have a mobile court which is a court of summary jurisdiction and the full weight of justice shall be applied to the offenders.
“Already those who had been convicted are provided with an option of fine or will go to jail,” Faransa said.
