For defying the order by President Muhammadu Buhari banning further mining activities in Zamfara state, 16 suspects are standing trial in court, Blueprint has confirmed.
The suspects were arrested by a combined team of security agents, including the army and the police, during a raid on Yarkaura village in Karankashe forest of Maru local government area of the state, where the illegal mining was taking place.
Spokesman of the state police command, SP Muhammad Shehu stated this Thursday in an interview with Blueprint in Gusau, the state capital.
He said the suspected illegal miners were currently in the state’s correctional centre Gusau for further trial.
Blueprint reports that about 10 days ago, illegal miners in their hundreds besieged Yarkaura village following speculations making the rounds that there was gold in abundance in Karankashe forest.
At the height of criminal activities by bandits in Zamfara state and some parts of the North-west as well as North-central, President Buhari declared the state a no-fly-zone and also imposed a ban on all mining activities.
Mixed reactions greeted the president’s decision with some describing it as appropriate while others said it was political and could ruin the economy of the state.
But the decision, it was gathered, came about following the discovery that Zamfara had become the home to bandits who had been unleashing a reign of terror on citizens within and outside the state.
Police speak
Speaking to our correspondent, the police spokesman said the suspects were dragged before the court to demonstrate to others with such intent that the presidential order would not be toyed with.
He further stated that, already, security personnel have been deployed to the area in a joint operation to ensure compliance with the federal government’s order with a view to restoring peace in the area.
ZMSG assures
Also in an interview, the state Commissioner for Information, Hon. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara, said the state government was doing the needful to compliment the presidential order.
“As we all know, the issue of mineral resources is in the domain of the federal government and the directive given on banning of all mining activities in the country is a welcome development and we are trying our possible best to compliment President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts by securing and safeguarding the resources from the hands of miscreants and unpatriotic citizens for the benefits of all Nigerians,” Dosara stated.
He further said: “The state government is fully aware of the illegal mining activities in some areas in Maru local government, but I am assuring you that we have no single place where both legal and illegal mining activities is taking place across Zamfara state and we shall continue to support the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to restore relative peace in Zamfara state.”
..Urges FG on 6,000
Meanwhile, the Zamfara state government has called on President Buhari to redeem his pledge by deploying the 6,000 troops to the state to neutralise banditry in the state.
Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Dosara stated this Thursday at a press conference in Gusau.
Dosara said by deploying the additional troops to the state, all forms of criminalities bedevilling the state would be dealt with.
“The state government also wants to urge the military authorities to embark on active supervision and monitoring of the military operations to ensure synergy and effectiveness of the war against terrorists,” Dosara stated.
He said the state under the leadership of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle was committed to ensuring peaceful coexistence returns to the state.
Dosara further said two soldiers arrested alongside five other persons allegedly abating bandits with arms, foods items and other logistics were recently arrested by the security agencies the state, saying they would soon be charged to court.
The commissioner further called on residents to always provide useful information to security agents to make their job seamless and ensure return of peace to the state.
To critics of the Matawallen-led government on the search for peace, he urged them to come forward and offer support “rather than hiding behind the mask casting aspersions on the pages of newspapers or social media.
“Our doors are widely opened to all objective and meaningful suggestions or criticisms from all well-meaning Nigerians.”
