The Federal Government yesterday ordered foreign miners in Zamfara State to leave within 48 hours. It also announced the suspension of mining activities in the state to curb the activities of armed bandits.
The move followed an attack that killed about 50 persons in the state at the weekend.
Briefing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Acting Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu warned that foreign miners who violate the order would have their licences withdrawn.
He said investigations had established a link between the activities of the bandits and illicit miners and that security forces would be dispatched to the state.
The 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.’
It reads: “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.”
The IGP also warned against “the use of social media to spread fake news, falsehood and deliberate misinformation.” He urged citizens to “exercise restraint in circulating unconfirmed information capable of doing more damage to us all.”
