Suspected bandits attacked a mining site in Anka local government area of Zamfara state on Wednesday, killing one of the six mobile policemen on guard and abducting the others.
Salisu Lawali, a witness, said the bandits invaded the site situated in Sunke village and disarmed the policemen after sporadic gun shots.
He said abducted policemen, who were led to an unknown destination, were released the following day without their guns.
Lawali said: “I don’t think there was any negotiation, because the abducted policemen just returned to the site unhurt, the only thing missing were their guns which they said were in the custody of their abductors.”
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Confirming the incident, Mustapha Gado, chairman of Anka local government area, said the policemen were deployed to man the site.
“The Divisional Police officer of the local government told me that the officers were released but their rifles were still in the custody of the bandits,” he said.
“We have earlier ordered for the closure of all the goldmines, but the expatriates can still be found because their machinery are stationed at the sites.
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“We consulted the relevant authorities on the need to close down the sites and we got approval, we served them with quit notice but those operating the sites sourced for security operatives to man the sites for them.”
The police could not be reached for comments.
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