Zamfara State Police Command in collaboration with the Military and State Department of Security Services has arrested 250 suspected illegal miners from Anka, Bukkuyum and Gummi local government areas of the state.
Parading the suspects before the news men at the State Police headquarters, Police Commissioner Usman Nagogo explained that, the exercise was conducted as a response to some intelligent reports that, despites the presidential order banning all mining activities in the state, some illegal miners still operate at some of the mining sites.
CP Nagogo explained further that, he personally led a team of Policemen to one of the mining sites at Kwalli in Bukkuyum local government which resulted to the arrest of two Chinese Nationals and their Nigerian collaborators.
“Satisfied with our action, the Inspector General of Police and Chief of Army Staff, issued a matching order to all the security formations in the state to go after illegal miners that defies the presidential order” Nagogo added.
Nagogo further explained that, on Wednesday, Nigerian Military in collaboration with the DSS and police raided the villages of Kawaye, Zugu, Dan Kamfani, Bagega, Dareta and Dakie Takwas mining sites of Bukkuyum, Anka and Gummi, led to the arrest of two hundred and fifty (250) Nigerians and One(1) Burkinabe national.
Exhibits recovered in the raiding and the arrest includes among others;
1 Twelve (12) Pumping machines
2. Twenty Nine (29) Motorcycles
3. Chemicals for making gold and
4. Unrefined Gold sifting materials.
“All the Suspects have confessed to the offences alleged and would be arraigned before the court of competent jurisdiction whenever the court resumes sitting”. Nagogo added.
The Commissioner therefore sound a strong warning to those who are defying the order to desist from such action or face the wrath of the law.
