From Maiharaji Altine Gusau
Zamfara State Police Command has arrested and prosecuted 18 illegal miners.
In a statement, the police Public Relations Officer SP Mohammed Shehu said, the suspects were arrested in connection with illegal mining activities contrary to Presidential order that banned illegal mining in Zamfara State.
According to Shehu, the anti illegal mining team which was led by SP Murtala Bello assigned by the force headquarters Abuja with a view to enforcing the Presidential banning order on illegal mining in the state had embarked on rigorous raiding and dislodging of illegal miners in various locations across the State.
He said, “the operations has commenced since September, 2020 when they raided numerous illegal mining sites at different locations in the state and succeeded in the arrest of many notorious illegal miners alongside formidable exhibits”.
“The squad was able to within the stated time to date, raided major illegal mining sites at Kwali of Bukkuyum local government area, Daki Takwas under Gummi local government area, Zugu and Wawan Icce mining sites under Anka local government area of Zamfara State among others”.
“The recent operations conducted by the anti illegal mining team was at ‘Yan Kaura mining site in Maru local government area where villagers from different parts of the state converged and embarked on illegal mining activities”.
“The assigned squad has mobilized and successfully dislodged the violators and 18 suspects were arrested”.
He maintained that discreet investigation was conducted after which all the suspects were charged to court and they are now in prison custody”.
“During the operations,numerous number of exhibits were recovered that include, 504 bags of different chemicals used in refining Gold, one Lexus Jeep, one Meter Director, one Professional Digital Table Top Scale, 14 bags of processing sand suspected to be Gold amongst others”. Concluded Shehu.
