Nigeria, Aug. 19 -- Soldiers of the 102 Guard Battalion, an elite unit of the Nigerian Army headquartered in Suleja, Niger State, have arrested 18 individuals described as "illegal miners" and recovered N2.4 million cash and operational tools.

The suspects were arrested in Izom, a satellite town in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, during a routine patrol operation, according to a statement posted on Facebook handle of the Mining Marshals, a special, anti-illegal mining unit of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The statement added that the soldiers handed over the suspects to the NSCDC special force unit in Sauka, Abuja.

The NSCDC alleged that the suspects "operated without licences, permits or affiliati...