The governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has issued a ban on illegal mining activities in the state. The ban will take effect today, as the governor has ordered law enforcement officials to adhere to the new development and ensure that violators are strictly brought to justice.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Sulaimon Bala Idris, the governor said in a statement that “the directive is necessary to ensure the safety 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 properties of people,” he added.
Zamfara State has been ravaged by banditry and killings over the past years, and the activity of illegal mining is a pointer to the level of insecurity that has plagued the state. The need for strict measures to curb the menace going on in the state is long overdue.
The recent murder of a veteran journalist, Hamisu Danjigba, who was abducted and subsequently killed and dumped in a soak-away in a brutal manner, further explains why there is a need for the Zamfara State Government to not only make laws that improve the security situation in the state but also make sure that these laws are strictly enforced.
This decision, if strictly adhered to as stated, will indeed also enable the Zamfara State Government to be able to account for state resources as unscrupulous elements have continued to pillage its natural resources.