The Special Anti-Poaching Squad of Cross River National Park arrests 17 suspected miners over alleged illegal activity inside the park. Rangers detain the suspects after receiving actionable intelligence about mining activities in Ekuri Eyenyen and Etara communities, located in Etung Local Government Area.
According to the park’s Conservator of Parks, CP Joseph Ntui Assam, the arrests relate to alleged mining within protected areas, which also involves other protected-area violations reported by authorities. The Punch similarly reports that the 17 artisan miners are arrested for encroachment in the national park.
While both outlets describe the same number of suspects, the shared location and the park’s anti-poaching operations, the coverage differs in emphasis. Daily Post Nigeria highlights the intelligence-led nature of the operation and lists broader categories of alleged offences associated with protected-area breaches. Punch focuses more directly on the miners’ alleged encroachment within the park.
