Banditry attack: Niger orders suspension of mining activities in three LGAs

The Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi local government areas to forestall further bandits attack.

These three local government areas have been ridden by insecurity in the state.

The Nation had reported that some terrorists attacked a mining site in Ajata Aboki Village in Shiroro Local Government Area where several security personnel and mining workers lost their lives while four Chinese Nationals and some mining workers were abducted.

In a statement signed by the Secretary to the Niger State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, the mining sites would remain closed till further notice.

The government warned that any mining operator caught engaging in mining activities in the aforementioned areas 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 added.

The state government then assured the people of the State of its determination to flush terrorists and other criminal elements out of the state.  (Courtesy, excluding headline, The Nation)