FG bans mining activities in Shiroro LG over gunmen attacks

The federal government has banned all mining activities at the sites attacked by suspected bandits in Shiroro LGA of Niger state.

In a statement on Thursday, Dele Alake, minister of solid minerals development, said the deaths of the 12 villagers killed by bandits at the Unguwar Mai-Goro community would be avenged.

About 13 people were reportedly killed by bandits in the Niger community on Wednesday.

Alake said, “no form of mining will be allowed to occur at the scene of the attack until security agencies have concluded investigations into the attack”.

“The security agencies will not rest until mines across the country are safe from the incursion of bandits and criminal elements seeking to take possession of mineral-rich areas for illegal mining by violence,” the statement reads.

“The mining marshals are working with intelligence units and other security agencies to make the recent attack a special case of collaboration of all agencies to track the trail and pattern of operations of the bandits suspected to have infiltrated Shiroro local government from neighbouring states.

“There is a new sheriff in town, and combating banditry in the mining sector is a mandate we are taking seriously.

“Those who think they can invade villages and kill innocent people to make way for illegal mining of their rich minerals will be shocked to discover that it is no longer business as usual.

“With the mining marshals working with the intelligence community, we shall fish out these hoodlums and put their hands to the fire.”

The minister said preliminary reports identified non-Nigerians in the mining business as the sponsors of the attacks.

He warned that those involved would be prosecuted for economic sabotage and waging war against the Nigerian state.

Alake urged embassies in Nigeria to oversee their nationals’ activities in the mining sector, adding that allegations of illegal conduct threaten bilateral relations between the nations.