Writing By Aminu Dalhatu, Editing By Godwin Duru
Zamfara State Police Command has arrested six foreigners from Burkina Faso and Niger Republic on alleged connection with illegal mining and banditry in the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dalijan made this known while parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters in Gusau
Mr Dalijan explained that, the three suspects, who are from Burkina Faso, were arrested along Anka Local Government Area where the mining site of late bandits’ kingpin Halilu Sububu is located.
He noted that the suspects were arrested with some dangerous chemicals including CNI chemicals which they were using in extracting gold.
According to him, the suspects travelled from Burkina Faso to Nigeria purposely to do illegal mining.
“We are trying to find out where they keep their arms because we believe they are fully armed, they have taken over the mining pit of the late Halilu Buzu, and we want to find out their relationship.”
The Commissioner noted that, ten additional illegal miners from Talata-Mafara local government were also arrested with many bags of mineral processing chemicals.
Dalijan said the Command also arrested three other foreigners from Niger Republic with three locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and AK-47 ammunition.
He further disclosed that the Command had also arrested three people from the Niger Republic with fabricated AK-47 rifles and assured to find to find out the manufacturers.
Mr Mohammed Dalijan also expressed concerns over the rate of irregular migration of foreigners into the country to commit crimes.
He reiterated the Command’s determination to ensure the ban on mining illegal mining is fully enforced
“We are being threatened by our neighbors, some people from Burkina Faso and Niger coming here to commit all sorts of crimes, for some to leave Burkina Faso to come and enter our bush where our people cannot ordinarily enter, there is more to it”.
He emphasized that mining is still illegal with the Federal and Zamfara State Government ban on mining in the state, in addition to the Inspector General of Police mandate to the Command to enforce the law.
Mr Dalijan assured of the command’s readiness to continue enforcing it until there are no illegal miners in Zamfara State.
COV/AMINU DALHATU
