Economic Sabotage: Police arrest 18 alleged illegal miners, recover exhibits in Zamfara

*The anti-illegal mining team of the Zamfara State Police Command, in Nigeria, has raided numerous unlawful mining sites in the state and apprehended several notorious illegal miners with formidable exhibits

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

For flouting a recent presidential order banning unlawful mining activities in the state, the Nigeria Police authorities have arrested 18 suspected illegal miners in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, North-West Nigeria.

SP Shehu Muhammad, Spokesman of the Zamfara State Police Command, in a statement said the Anti-Illegal Mining Team, led by SP Murtala Bello, had embarked on rigorous raiding and dislodging of illegal miners in various locations across the state.

Workers at a mining site in Nigeria

The Police Spokesman stated: “The squad was able to within the stated time to date, raid major illegal mining sites at Kwali of Bukkuyum Local Government Area, Daki Takwas under Gummi Local Government Area, Zugu and Wawan Icce mining sites under Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State among others.”

The anti-illegal mining team had actively been on operations since September 2020 when they raided numerous illegal mining sites at different locations in the state and succeeded in the arrest of many notorious illegal miners alongside formidable exhibits, said SP Muhammad.

The Police Spokesman also disclosed that “the recent operations by the anti-illegal mining team was at ‘Yan Kaura mining site in Maru Local Government Area where villagers from different parts of the state converged and embarked on illegal mining activities.

The statement added: “The assigned squad has mobilised and successfully dislodged the violators and 18 suspects were arrested.”

The Police authorities, however, warned that those who engage in illegal mining should desist from the acts, as the task force team troops would not relent to arrest anyone found guilty of illegal mining activities in the state.