The Federal Government has announced the suspension of all forms of mining activities in Zamfara, and ordered all foreigners engaged in mining activities to leave the state within 48 hours.
Acting Police Inspector-General, Muhammed Adamu, who disclosed this when he addressed State House correspondents in Abuja yesterday, said the order was part of measures to check banditry in the state.
The IGP addressed the correspondents alongside the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari; Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i.
Adamu stated that the suspension of mining activities followed intelligence report that has clearly established a strong and glaring link between the activities of armed bandits and illicit miners — with both mutually re-enforcing each other.
He maintained that as part of sustained efforts to flush out and permanently put an end to banditry and criminality in Zamfara in particular and the North West in general, the Police in collaboration with the military and other security services had commenced Operation Puff Adder, a full- scale security offensive against the bandits.