According to reports by Punch Newspapers and Channels Television, the police have arrested 42 suspected illegal miners in connection with the fresh kidnapping of the monarch.

Security sources reveal that the arrests were made during a coordinated operation targeting illegal mining sites, which authorities believe have increasingly become hotspots for criminal activities, including kidnappings. The latest abduction has reignited concerns about the link between illegal mining and rising insecurity in the region.

Investigations are ongoing as law enforcement agencies work to rescue the abducted monarch and dismantle the network behind the crime. Residents have also called for stronger security measures and stricter regulation of mining activities to curb further incidents.

The development underscores the growing challenge of illegal mining and its connection to violent crimes across parts of Nigeria.