From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Federal Government warned embassies in Nigeria to monitor the activities of their nationals in the mining sector as allegations of criminal conduct pose serious threats to the bilateral harmony between Nigeria and other countries in the world.
Minister of solid minerals Development Dele Alake gave the warning while reacting to the death of 12 miners were shot death by bandits at Unguwar Magro Village of Shiroro local Government Area of Niger State .
This is contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on media to the Minister, Segun Tomori, in Abuja.
The statement said preliminary reports fingered non-Nigerians active in the mining businesses as funders of such operations, warning that anyone found will be prosecuted for economic sabotage and war against the Nigerian State.
According to the statement the Mining Marshals are working with intelligence units and other security agencies to make the recent attack a special case of collaboration of all agencies to track the trail and pattern of operations of the bandits suspected to have infiltrated Shiroro local government from neighbouring states.
“There is a new Sheriff in town and combatting banditry in the mining sector is a mandate we are taking seriously. Those who think they can invade villages, kill innocent people to make way for illegal mining of their rich minerals will be shocked to discover that it is no longer business as usual. With the Mining Marshals working with the intelligence community, we shall fish out these hoodlums and put their hands to the fire”
“No form of mining will be allowed to occur at the scene of the attack until security agencies have concluded investigations into the attack” the statement adds.
We mourn the brutal killings of innocent workers at the mining site and assured that security agencies will not rest until mines across the country are safe from the incursion of bandits and criminal elements seeking to take possession of mineral-rich areas for illegal mining by violence.”