Zamfara: Buhari receives gold bars from Governor as Army raids illegal mining site, arrests 150

By Ibrahim Ahmad
Faskari (Katsina), Aug. 25, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari, Tuesday, received in audience the governor of Zamfara state, Bello Matawalle in State House.

The governor came to brief the President on the solid minerals and mining potentials of the state and to present the President with some gold bars and other samples of solid minerals from the state.

This, however, was as troops of Nigeria Army, under Operation Sahel Sanity, coordinated intelligence-based operations leading to the raid of an illegal mining site in the state.

The site, that is located along Gadan Zaima in Bukuyyum LGA of Zamfara State, also serves as bandits’ hideout.

The Acting Director, Defence, Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Benard Onyeuko, made this disclosure at a news conference held in Super Camp 4 Faskari on Tuesday.

During the operation, troops arrested 150 suspects and recovered 20 locally fabricated dane guns.

Onyeuko said that one of the suspects was neutralized while trying to escape.
He added that preliminary investigation has revealed that aside sabotaging the nation’s economy, banditry is being financed through these illegal mining activities.

Similarly, the troops on fighting patrol encountered three bandits on motorcycles around Maigalma village in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara while attempting to attack innocent residents.

During the encounter, one of the bandits was neutralized while others escaped and troops recovered one AK-47 Rifle, one AK 47 Rifle magazine loaded with 5 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and two motorcycles from the fleeing bandits.

He also said that troops acting on intelligence raided a known bandits’ hideout around Dogon Karfe village in Bakura area council of Zamfara.

Onyeuko said that during the operation four Dane Guns and one loaded magazine in an abandoned structure were recovered.

“Troops deployed at Wagini village arrested a wanted notorious bandit named Isuhu Ibrahim (Bula) who, in company with other bandits, has been terrorizing the general area for a while.

“Relatedly, troops deployed to Daki Takwas conducted a snap road block and successfully intercepted a Toyota Corolla car with Reg. No. DAL 41MT.

“After a diligent search on the vehicle, troops discovered 11 brand new locally made rifles and 150 live cartridges carefully concealed in different parts of the vehicle.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that the dangerous cargo was heading to Kofar Dinya in Bukkuyum LGA of Zamfara State, while five men were arrested in connection to the illegal fire arms.

All the suspects are currently in custody of the Nigeria Army, undergoing preliminary investigations and will soon be handed over to relevant prosecuting agencies for further action,” he said.