FG Orders All Foreign Miners To Vacate Zamfara State in 48 Hours

— The Federal Government ordered all the foreign miners to leave the state, and All mining activities were also suspended in Zamfara State to vacate the state within 48 hours. 

— The Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu reiterated that all foreign miners who violate the order would have their licences withdrawn immediately.

Yesterday 7th April, The Federal Government ordered all the foreign miners in Zamfara State to vacate the state within 48 hours. All mining activities were also suspended in attempt to reduce the activities of armed robbers in the state.

The move by the Police force was a result of an attack that killed about 50 persons in the state last weekend.

Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu said this while he was interviewed by State House correspondents at the Aso Rock in Abuja.

He emphasized that foreign miners who violate the order would have their licences withdrawn immediately.

The Acting Inspector said that according to the police investigation, they had discovered a working relationship between the activities of the robbers and illegal miners, and as a result, security agents would be dispatched to the state.

The Acting IGP’s statement was entitled, “Security Situation In Zamfara And Neighboring States, Police, Military and DSS Intensify Joint Operations Against Bandits, FG Suspends All Mining Activities In Zamfara And Its Environs”.

The statement reads as follows: “As part of sustained efforts to flush out, and permanently put an end to armed banditry and criminality in Zamfara State, in particular, and the northwest in general, the Nigeria Police Force in collaboration with the Nigerian Military and other security services has commenced ‘Operation Puff-Adder’, which is a full-scale security offensive against the bandits.

“The operation is aimed at reclaiming every public space under the control of the bandits, arrest and bring to book all perpetrators of violence in the area and their collaborators, achieve a total destruction of all criminal camps and hideouts, mop up all illicit weapons fueling the violence, and attain a full restoration of law and order in the affected communities.

“Our commitment to protecting the sanctity of life and property is irrevocable and we will not scale down the pressure on the armed bandits until they are totally flushed-out.

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The Acting IGP also warned against “the use of social media to spread fake news, falsehood and deliberate misinformation.” He advised the people of the state to “exercise restraint in circulating unconfirmed information capable of doing more damage to us all.”

The interview also had in attendance the Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari; Director General, Department of State Services (DSS) Yusuf Bichi; and Director General National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Abubakar.