Bandits Attack: Niger Government Orders Suspension Of Mining Activities

Following bandits' attack on a mining site in Ajata Aboki Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities.

The suspension is said to include all areas with mining activities in Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi Local Government Areas of the State over continued bandits’ attacks until further notice.

A statement issued by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, on Monday, indicated that the decision to suspend mining activities become necessary as a result of escalating insecurity in those areas in recent times.

It has been observed that the mining sites now attract or even accommodate criminals with prospective threats to security of lives and property, the statement stressed. 

The SSG warned that any mining operator caught engaging in mining activities in the areas mentioned would face the full wrath of the law.

"The State Government has directed security agencies in the State to profile all mining sites in the affected Local Governments with a view to ascertaining their genuineness."

He assured the people of the State that Government would not scale down pressure on the armed bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers, and other criminal elements until they were flushed out of the state.

Matane urged the people of the State to be security conscious and report all suspicious characters, movements, or objects in their communities to security agents.