Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has banned illegal mining activities across the state.
Illegal mining was said to have fueled banditry and other criminal activities in the state in the past years.
Governor Lawal, in a statement by his spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris, ordered law enforcement agents to take stringent actions against violators.
According to the statement, the governor said the time had come to end this destructive activity and implement measures to protect the people.
He said security operatives had been given strict orders to take bold action and shoot at sight anyone found engaging in illegal mining.
“The directive is necessary to ensure the safety and security of the good people of Zamfara and deter potential wrongdoers from committing such acts.
“It is also a swift action to enable the state government to be in total control of state resources and block activities that endanger the lives and property of the people.
“Illegal mining is undeniably one of the driving forces behind the rampant banditry plaguing Zamfara State. We must take swift, decisive action to curb this menace and restore peace and security to our communities,” he said.
