The Niger State Government, on Monday, ordered the immediate suspension of mining activities across the state.
The ban came following a recent attack at a mine in Shiroro Local Government of the state, where 48 people were reportedly killed and Chinese nationals kidnapped.
The Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Matane, in a statement, directed security agencies to profile mining sites in areas that are prone to bandit attacks.
“Following bandits’ attack on a mining site in Ajata Aboki Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities in Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi Local Government Areas, over continued bandits’ attacks,” Mr Matane said.
The SSG said the suspension is indefinite and warned that any mining operator caught engaging in mining activities in the areas mentioned would face the full wrath of the law.
He also urged the people of the state to be security conscious and report all suspicious characters, movements, or objects in their communities to security agents.
