The Federal Government has committed to avenge the deaths of 12 miners slain by bandits in Unguwar Magro Village, Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State.
The government also stated that security authorities are tracking down the bandits and will shortly bring them to justice.
Meanwhile, no mining will be allowed at the attack site until security services have completed their investigations.
Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, announced these steps in a statement.
Alake, who mourned the cruel killings of innocent miners at the mining site, vowed that security agencies would not rest until mines across the country were protected from bandits and criminal elements aiming to gain control of mineral-rich areas for illegal mining through violence.
Segun Tomori, the minister’s Special Assistant for Media, signed the statement on Thursday in Abuja.
The minister stated that the mining marshals are collaborating with intelligence units and other security agencies to make the recent attack a unique case of all agencies working together to track the trail and pattern of operations of the bandits suspected of infiltrating Shiroro local government from neighbouring states.
“There is a new sheriff in town, and combating banditry in the mining sector is a mandate we are taking seriously. Those who think they can invade villages and 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.”
Alake stated that preliminary studies also identified non-Nigerians involved in mining firms as sponsors of such operations, warning that anyone found would be punished for economic sabotage and waging war against the Nigerian state.
He advised Nigerian embassies to watch their nationals’ mining activities, as claims of criminal activity pose major concerns to bilateral harmony between Nigeria and other nations throughout the world.
On Wednesday, suspected terrorists, known locally as bandits, stormed Unguwar Magero village in Gurmana ward of Shiroro Local Government Area, Niger State, killing around 13 people at a local mining site.
The bandits allegedly discovered the miners at the site and promptly started fire, creating a path of carnage.
