The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested six foreigners from Burkina Faso and Niger Republic in connection with illegal mining and banditry in the state.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dalijan, disclosed this in Gusau on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters.
Dalijan stated that three of the suspects from Burkina Faso were apprehended in the Anka Local Government Area, a site previously associated with the late bandit kingpin Halilu Sububu.
He noted that the suspects were arrested with some dangerous chemicals including CNI chemicals which they were using in extracting gold.
“They are non-indigenes, they travelled from Burkina Faso to Nigeria purposely to do illegal mining. They have been arrested with these chemicals, including CNI. The Commissioner emphasized the risks associated with CNI, noting, “CNI is a very dangerous chemical that is being used by criminals in many forms, but they are using it to extract gold.”
The police are currently investigating the suspects’ potential connections to arms, as there is suspicion that they may be armed.
Dalijan indicated that the suspects had taken control of the mining pit formerly operated by Halilu Buzu and stated, “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.”
According to the CP, in addition to the initial arrests, the police also detained ten other illegal miners from Talata-Mafara Local Government Area, who were found with numerous bags of mineral processing chemicals.
Furthermore, Dalijan said the Command also arrested three other foreigners from Niger Republic with three locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and AK-47 ammunition
“We have also arrested three people from the Niger Republic with fabricated AK-47 rifles but they used AK-47 magazines and ammunition, we are trying to find out who the manufacturers are,” he stated.
READ ALSO: EFCC Arrests Five Chinese for Alleged Illegal Mining in Akwa Ibom
The Commissioner expressed concern regarding the influx of foreigners into Nigeria for criminal activities. He highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by irregular migration from neighboring countries, stating,
“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 reiterated the Command’s efforts to ensure the ban on mining by the federal and state governments is fully enforced.
“I want everybody to know that mining is still illegal, the Federal Government has banned mining in Zamfara State, the state government has also banned mining, the Inspector General of Police has mandated us to enforce the law and we will continue enforcing it until there are no illegal miners in Zamfara State,” the CP added.
