Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has banned mining activities in Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria as he seeks to curb the rising spate of kidnapping and banditry in the state.
Buhari made the decision in a National Security Coucil meeting today in Abuja, the Nigerian capital also declared Zamfara State as a no-fly zone.
National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) announced the decision while addressing correspondents after the meeting.
Monguno said every non-state actor playing a part in the insecurity in the state has been placed under surveillance with the defence and intelligence units charged to step up the ante and provide valuable information.
The security chiefs were also tasked with rescuing Nigeria from the clutches of bandits, who have domiciled in various states in Northwestern Nigeria and are advancing towards the south.
Earlier on Tuesday, 279 of the 317 abducted students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Talata-Marafa, Zamfara State were released after four days in captivity.
Insecurity has risen in Northwest Nigeria with strong links placed with increasing mining activities in the region, as Zamfara has some of the finest gold in Nigeria.
