FG Suspends Mining Activities In Zamfara, Orders Foreigners To Vacate Mining Sites Within 48 Hours

FG Suspends Mining Activities In Zamfara, Orders Foreigners To Vacate Mining Sites Within 48 Hours

The Federal Government has ordered the suspension of all mining
activities in Zamfara state with immediate effect. The Inspector General
of Police Mohammed Adamu made the directive known at a press conference
in Abuja today April 7th.

The IGP also added that all foreigners on the mining sites have been asked to vacate their locations within 48 hours.

The police chief said the suspension of the mining activities
followed “intelligence report that has clearly established a strong and
glaring nexus between the activities of armed bandits and illicit miners
-with both mutually re-enforcing each other.’’

”Mining activities in Zamfara and other affected states are hereby
suspended with immediate effect. Consequently, any mining operator who
engages in mining activities in the affected locations henceforth will
have his licence revoked. All foreigners operating in the mining fields
should close and leave within 48 hours.”

The directive comes after the launch of Operation Puff-Adder to
tackle kidnapping, banditry and other criminal activities along the
Kaduna-Abuja highway and adjoining communities extending to Kogi,
Katsina, Niger and Zamfara states.

Zamfara state has been in the news  since the begin of the year for
reported acts of killings and kidnappings recorded in the state.