FG bans mining in Zamfara, launches “Operation PUFF- ADDER” to tame bandits

Chidi Samuel|

The federal government on Sunday banned all mining activities in Zamfara state, and ordered foreigners within mining sites to vacate the area within 48 hours.

The government has also launched a special operation to stop bandits in the state.

Mohammed Adamu, acting inspector-general of police, made the disclosure while addressing journalists at the end of a security meeting at the presidential villa in Abuja on Sunday.

The acting IGP said the licences of individuals and companies that disobey the directive to stop the activities would be revoked.

According to him, government took the measure because intelligence reports, “clearly established a strong and glaring nexus between the activities of armed bandits and illicit miners -with both mutually re-enforcing each other”.

He said, “any mining operator who engages in mining activities in the affected locations henceforth will have his licence revoked”.

“ All foreigners operating in the mining fields should close and leave within 48hours”.

Adamu assured the general public, especially in the affected areas, that the security services are doing their best to address the situation.

The IGP said as part of “sustained efforts to flush out, and permanently put an end to armed banditry and criminality in Zamfara State” in particular and the North West in general, the Nigeria Police in collaboration with the Nigerian Military and other Security Services have commenced “Operation PUFF- ADDER”, which, he said, is a full-scale security offensive against the bandits.

The operation, he said, is aimed at reclaiming every public space under the control of the bandits and to arrest and bring to book all perpetrators of violence in the area and their collaborators.

“Our commitment at protecting the sanctity of life and property is irrevocable, and we will not scale-down the pressure on the armed bandits until they are totally flushed-out,” he said.

He appealed for the cooperation of local communities, especially the traditional and religious leaders within such communities.

The intervention by the federal government comes 24 hours after some protesters marched to Aso Rock on Saturday to draw attention to the escalating state of insecurity in Zamfara which have claimed many lives and property worth millions of naira.