The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested six foreigners from Burkina Faso and Niger Republic in connection with illegal mining activities and their potential links to banditry in the state.
State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dalijan, made the disclosure on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, while parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters in Gusau. Dalijan revealed that three of the suspects, all from Burkina Faso, were apprehended near the Anka Local Government Area, a site previously associated with late bandit leader Halilu Sububu.
“These individuals traveled from Burkina Faso to Nigeria specifically for illegal mining. They were found with dangerous chemicals, including CNI, used for extracting gold,” Dalijan stated. The commissioner added that authorities are investigating the whereabouts of the suspects’ arms, suspecting they might be armed and involved in more criminal activities at the mining site.
In addition to the Burkinabe nationals, Dalijan confirmed the arrest of 10 illegal miners in Talata-Mafara Local Government Area, who were found with bags of mineral-processing chemicals. He also announced the capture of three other foreigners from Niger Republic, who were found with locally fabricated AK-47 rifles and ammunition.
The police commissioner raised concerns over the increasing number of foreigners entering Zamfara State to engage in criminal activities, expressing the need for stricter control over illegal migration. “We are being threatened by our neighbors. People from Burkina Faso and Niger come here to commit all sorts of crimes. For some to leave Burkina Faso and enter our bush, where our people cannot ordinarily go, there is more to it,” Dalijan warned.
He reaffirmed the police force’s commitment to enforcing the federal and state bans on mining, emphasizing that no illegal mining operations would be tolerated in the state.
The Inspector General of Police has mandated strict enforcement of these laws to ensure the complete eradication of illegal mining operations in Zamfara.
