No fewer than 21 suspects were arrested and are currently under investigation following a joint operation targeting illegal mining activities in Zamfara State.
The suspects were arrested on Saturday at various illegal mining sites, including Boko Village in Zurmi Local Government Area and Kaya Village in Maradun Local Government Area.
Confirming the arrests in a statement on Sunday, the spokesperson of the Zamfara State Police Command, Yazid Abubakar, said the operation was conducted in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.
He said, “On January 31, 2026, at about 1400 hours, a joint operation comprising officers of the Anti-Illegal Mining Unit, Tactical Unit, and Bomb Disposal Unit of the Zamfara State Police Command, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Area Office Gusau, was conducted to dislodge groups of illegal miners.
“The operation targeted Boko Village in Zurmi Local Government Area and Kaya Village in Maradun Local Government Area, where illegal mining activities had been persistently reported. The raid was successfully executed, leading to the arrest of 21 suspected illegal miners.”
Abubakar said the suspects are currently being held at the Taskforce on Illegal Mining Unit, adding that investigations are ongoing and that further developments will be communicated in due course.
In recent times, illegal mining activities in Zamfara State have been linked to banditry and other criminal acts, particularly in areas such as Maru, Anka, Tsafe, Bukkuyum, Zurmi, Bungudu, Talata Mafara and Shinkafi.
It is still unclear whether the Federal Government’s recent decision to lift the more than five-year ban on mining in the state has contributed to the resurgence of illegal activities. However, reports indicates that unlawful mining continued even during the period of the ban.
Earlier, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the ban was lifted following improvements in the security situation, adding that the move would boost regulated mining, enhance intelligence gathering, and curb illegal activities to ensure the nation benefits from the state’s resources.
