Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 21 individuals suspected of involvement in illegal mining activities during a targeted security operation in the state’s North‑West region. The arrests were made in Zurmi and Maradun Local Government Areas, where unlawful mining has been persistently reported by locals and security agencies.
According to a statement issued by DSP Yazid Abubakar, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Zamfara State Command, the raids were conducted on January 31, 2026, at about 1400 hours as part of a joint effort involving the Anti‑Illegal Mining Unit, Tactical Unit, and Bomb Disposal Unit of the police, in collaboration with personnel from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Gusau Area Office.
The statement said the operation specifically targeted mining sites at Boko Village in Zurmi LGA and Kaya Village in Maradun LGA, areas long associated with unregulated extraction of mineral resources. Following coordinated actions by the security teams, 21 suspected illegal miners were apprehended.
The suspects are currently under investigation with the Task Force on Illegal Mining Unit as authorities work to establish the extent of their activities and possible links to wider criminal networks operating in the region. Further updates on prosecutions or additional arrests were pledged to be communicated at a later date.
Illegal mining has been a persistent challenge in Zamfara State and other parts of northern Nigeria, often tied to environmental degradation, revenue loss, and security concerns due to the activities of criminal gangs and bandit groups around mineral‑rich areas. The police operation reflects ongoing efforts by security agencies, with support from federal partners, to curb unlawful mining and reinforce regulatory control over the state’s valuable mineral resources.
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