Two Chinese Arrested For Illegal Mining In Zamfara

Two Chinese nationals have been arrested by the Nigerian Police for illegal mining in Bukkuyum local government area of Zamfara state.

The Chinese nationals identified as MM. Wang and Chun were paraded on Monday by the Zamfara police command.

The federal government had banned in 2019 all mining activities in Zamfara to checkmate the activities of the armed bandits behind the killings in the state.

State police spokesman Muhammad Shehu said the arrest was made following a tipoff received on April 19 that foreigners and Nigerians were engaged in illegal mining activities in Kwali in the State Bukkuyum LGA.

He said state police commissioner Usman Nagogo led a task force to the Kwali mining sites the next day.

“The information turned out to be credible because hundreds of miners dispersed as soon as they saw the team. Two workers were however arrested, which confirmed the presence of Chinese and Burkinabe nationals, among others.

“On April 25, 2020, there were reports that Chinese and Bulgarian nationals were taking refuge somewhere in Nasarawa Burkullu. And on April 26, 2020, the police commissioner led another team to the same village where two Chinese nationals were seen with all the chemicals needed to make gold, “said Shehu.