The items were intercepted at a military checking point in Malum, Ardo Kola Local Government Area.
In an interview with our reporter, the driver of the truck Shuaibu Abdullahi who claimed to be from plateau state said they loaded the iron monazite and the goska timbers from Serti – Baruwa in Gashaka Local Government Area and are heading to Lagos State for offload.
He confessed that one Hamza Isa from Serti – Baruwa was the one who gave him the items to convey them to Lagos State for onward shipment.
Shuaibu Abdullahi regretted why he accepted the goods pleading to be pardon by the special taskforce committee members STF in the state who are really doing their job without fear or favor.
Similarly, the special taskforce committee members have also seized about one thousand two hundred bags of charcoals worth over six million (6, 000, 000,)naira along Wukari, Bantaje Sabongida axis of Taraba State.
The items were seized following ban on felling of trees and illegal mining in the state by His Excellency Governor Agbu Kefas.
When intimated on the seizures, the chairman special taskforce on environmental protection public safety and prohibition of deforestation in the state Retired General Jeremiah Aliyu Faransa said as far as there is ban on mining and woods logging in the state, he will never hesitate to to arrest and hand over to the mobile court anyone found bridging the executive order.
Faransa added that Taraba State under Governor Agbu Kefas must change the narrative of doing things promising to do his best in the interest of the state.
“I am aware that already people have started blackmailing me saying all sorts of things, I have a reputation to protect. I will go after anyone violating the executive order suspending mining and deforestation activities.
The suspects have since been arrested and will be charged to court for prosecution.
COV: ZI
