At least 21 individuals have been arrested in Zamfara State following a joint operation targeting illegal mining activities, PUNCH Metro reports.
The suspects were apprehended 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 on Sunday, Zamfara State Police spokesperson Yazid Abubakar stated that the operation was carried out by the police alongside the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.
“On January 31, 2026, at around 2:00 p.m., a coordinated raid involving the Anti-Illegal Mining Unit, Tactical Unit, and Bomb Disposal Unit of the Zamfara State Police Command, in collaboration with NSCDC and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, was conducted to dislodge illegal miners,” Abubakar said.
The operation specifically targeted Boko Village in Zurmi and Kaya Village in Maradun, leading to the successful apprehension of 21 suspects, who are now in custody at the Taskforce on Illegal Mining Unit. Investigations are ongoing, and further updates will be provided as they become available.
Illegal mining in Zamfara has been previously linked to banditry and other criminal activities, particularly in areas including Maru, Anka, Tsafe, Bukkuyum, Zurmi, Bungudu, Talata Mafara, and Shinkafi.
Although the Federal Government recently lifted a ban on mining in the state—originally in place for over five years—reports indicate that unlawful mining persisted during the ban period. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, explained that lifting the ban aims to strengthen regulated mining, enhance intelligence gathering, and curb illegal operations to ensure that the nation fully benefits from Zamfara’s mineral resources.
