Zamfara miners: We’re victims of circumstances — and with no links to bandits

Kabir Kankara, national president of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), says its members do not have any link with bandits.

The federal government on Tuesday announced a ban on mining activities in Zamfara and also declared the state a no-fly zone following the recent abduction of schoolgirls in the state.

According to the federal government, the steps are to curb the rising insecurity in the state.

Speaking on Thursday, in Abuja, Kankara said tackling insecurity in the state was a timely and welcome development as it was for the safety of lives and property.

“To the best of my knowledge, our members have no connection with bandits, we are in line with any measure proffered by the federal government to forestall insecurity in Zamfara,” Kankara said in an interview with NAN.

“Yes, our mining activities occur in the bush but we do not have links with bandits, we are just victims of circumstances.”

Also, Dele Ayanleke, national secretary of MAN, said miners were not against any measure taken by the federal government to forestall insecurity in the country.

Ayanleke advised the government to take steps to ensure that artisanal miners do not encroach on sites belonging to mining titleholders during the period of the ban.