Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities in three local government areas of the state over the continued bandits’ attacks until further notice.

The local governments include Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi.

The governor’s directive was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, on Monday.

Matane stated that the decision to suspend mining activities became necessary over the escalating insecurity in the affected areas.

The SSG noted that it was observed that the mining sites have been attracting and accommodating criminals with prospective threats to security of lives and property in the state.

He, however, warned that any mining operator caught engaging in mining activities in the affected areas would be sanctioned by the state government.

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Matane stated: “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 further assured the people of the state that the government would not scale down pressure on the armed bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers, and other criminals until they were flushed out of the state.

Matane, therefore, urged the residents to be security conscious and report all suspicious characters, movements, or objects in their communities to security agencies.

The Star had reported over 40 people, including soldiers, police officers, and civilians were killed during the attack on a mining site at Ajata-Aboki in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State last Wednesday.

Over 30 soldiers, seven policemen, and six civilians were killed in the attack, while scores sustained varying degrees of injuries and others kidnapped.

The Star