Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has placed a ban on illegal mining in the state, directing security operatives to shoot violators of the order on sight.

Lawal said the order was part of measures to restore law and order in Zamfara State.

The governor, in a statement issued by his media aide, Suleiman Idris, on Saturday, September 23, 2023, noted that illegal mining had fuelled banditry and other criminal activities in parts of the state over the years.

He said: “Illegal mining is undeniably one of the driving forces behind the rampant banditry plaguing Zamfara.

READ ALSO: Troops rescue 6 abducted Zamfara varsity students

“We must take swift and decisive action to curb this menace and restore peace and security to our communities.”

Governor Lawal ordered security operatives to take other stringent measures against those caught violating the order, adding: “It is time to end the destructive activity and implement measures to protect the safety and well-being of the people.

“The directive is necessary to ensure the safety and security of the people of Zamfara and deter potential wrongdoers.

“It is also a swift action to enable government to be in total control of the state’s resources and block activities that endanger the lives and properties of the people.”

The Star