The federal government on Sunday announced the suspension of mining activities in Zamfara state and environs, following rising cases of armed banditry.
Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, made the announcement while briefing State House correspondents today.
Adamu said all mining sites in the state would be taken over by a special Task Force comprising relevant security agencies.
The briefing was attended by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, the Director General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi and the Director General of Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai.
He said: “Meanwhile, in the face of 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, the Federal Government of Nigeria has directed as follows:
“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. We want to assure the general public, especially in the affected areas that the security services are doing their best to address the situation,” he said.
