Zamfara State Police Command has Paraded Two hundred and fifty-five illegal miners who were arrested in the state.
The state Commissioner of Police Usman Nagogo who addressed journalists while parading the suspects said, the action was to ensure compliance with the Federal Government’s order banning illegal mining activities across the country in a bid to end criminality.
The arrests were made in two major operations led by the commissioner of police Usman Nagogo on 20th April 2020 to a major mining site at Kwalli village of Bukkuyum Local Government
Area and the Brigade Commander of One Brigade, Brigadier General Musliu O Bello who led a team of Army, Police, and DSS on the 21st May, 2020 in villages of Kawaye, Zugu, Dsn-Kamfani, Bagega, Dareta and Daki-Takwas of Anka, Bukkuyum and Gummi LGAs respectively.
During the Operations, Two hundred and fifty-five Nigerians and One Burkinabe national illegal miners were arrested and recovered exhibits to include; Twelve (12) Pumping Machines, Twenty Nine (29) Motorcycles, Chemicals and Unrefined Gold Sifting Materials
Earlier, some illegal miners Chinese Nationals and their Nigerian Collaborators were arrested for the illegal mining and have since been handed over to Force CID, Force Headquarters Abuja.
According to the CP, all the suspected illegal miners have confessed to the offence and would be arraigned before the court of competent jurisdiction whenever the court resumes sitting.
However, CP Nagogo warned that security agents will continue the raids until and unless the federal Government unbanned the mining activities.