Security agents arrest, quarantine 251 illegal miners in Zamfara

The Zamfara State police command, in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, has arrested and quarantined 251 illegal artisanal miners in the state.

The state police commissioner, Mr Usman Nagogo, announced this on Saturday while speaking to Journalists.

Mr Usman Nagogo said he led a team of policemen to one of the major mining sites at Kwalli in Bukkuyum Local Government and the result was that some Chinese nationals and their Nigerian collaborators were arrested.

The Police Commissioner said those arrested had since been handed over to Force CID, Force Headquarters Abuja.

Read Also:6 Dead In Mining Pit Collapse In Plateau(Opens in a new browser tab)

According to him“The Magnitude of arrest led both the Inspector General of Police and Chief of Army Staff to give a marching order to security agents to go after these illegal miners. “Also, the Brigade Commander 1 Brigade Nigerian Army, Gusau Brigadier General O. M Bello led a team compromising of Army, Police and DSS to raid the mining sites in Anka, Bukkuyum and Gummi LGAs.

Usman Nagogo noted that “The raiding of Kawaye, Zugu, Dan Kamfani, Bagega, Dareta and Dakie Takwas mining sites of the above LGAs led to the arrest of two hundred and fifty (250) Nigerians and One(1) Burkinabe national.’’

He said exhibits recovered included; 12 pumping machines, 29 motorcycles, chemicals for making gold and unrefined gold sifting materials. All the suspects have confessed to the offence and would be arraigned before the court of competent jurisdiction whenever the court resumes sitting.