The Federal Government has said it will begin a clampdown and the arrest of all firms and individuals engaged in illegal mining activities in Cross River State.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Federal Mines Officer in Cross River State, Ayelabola Olubunmi, during a fact-finding meeting with traditional leaders and stakeholders in Butatong community, in the Boki Local Government Area of the state.
He said the government was losing millions of naira in revenue to illegal mining operations carried out by undocumented firms in forest communities across the state. 
He said, “This meeting was convened following reports of influx of foreigners and private groups into communities around the Okwango division of the Cross River National Park, amid concerns over mining activities in the area. The Federal government will begin a clampdown and the arrest of all firms and individuals engaged in illegal mining activities in the state.
“There are a lot of mining operations in Okwa villages 1 and 2, which are enclaves in the Cross River National Park, adjoining Butatong. These operators are not known to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals and they do not go through legal procedures, thereby denying the Federal Government its due royalties.
“We don’t want firms to enter our forests for mining activities through the backdoor. We’ll definitely fish them out; the ministry will soon intensify sensitisation and enforcement visits to affected communities.”
The mines officer warned the traditional rulers and community leaders against granting mining consent.
He said the ministry had officially licensed firms authorised to undertake mining activities in designated parts of the state, adding that the government needed companies that could be held accountable.
“Mining activities must be in line with Minerals and Mining Act of 2007. For illegal miners and those aiding them, the Federal Government would treat their operations as economic sabotage”, he said.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and report mining activities that could expose communities to environmental, health and security risks.
The Clan Head of Butatong, HRH Otu Gregory Apah, urged indigenes not to harbour illegal miners and appealed to the government to provide basic social amenities to the mineral-rich community.
The Chairman of Butatong Community Council, Benedict Apah, said he was not aware of mineral deposits in Butatong itself but confirmed that mining activities were ongoing in neighbouring enclave communities, including Okwango, Okwa 1, Okwa 2 and Bumagi.
