No fewer than 21 persons have been arrested and are now under investigation following a coordinated operation against illegal mining activities in Zamfara State.
It was gathered that the suspects were picked up on Saturday at various illegal mining locations. The affected areas include Boko Village in Zurmi Local Government Area and Kaya Village in Maradun Local Government Area.
The Zamfara State Police Command confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday by its spokesperson, Yazid Abubakar. He disclosed that the operation involved the police and other security and regulatory agencies.
According to him, “On January 31, 2026, at about 1400 hours, a joint operation comprising officers of the Anti-Illegal Mining Unit, Tactical Unit, and Bomb Disposal Unit of the Zamfara State Police Command, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, Area Office Gusau, was conducted to dislodge groups of illegal miners.
“The operation targeted Boko Village in Zurmi Local Government Area and Kaya Village in Maradun Local Government Area, where illegal mining activities had been persistently reported. The raid was successfully executed, leading to the arrest of 21 suspected illegal miners.”
Abubakar stated that the suspects were currently in custody at the Taskforce on Illegal Mining Unit. He added that investigations were ongoing and that “further developments will be communicated in due course.”
Illegal mining has remained a major concern in Zamfara State in recent years, as authorities have linked the activity to banditry and other criminal acts. Areas often mentioned in connection with the problem include Maru, Anka, Tsafe, Bukkuyum, Zurmi, Bungudu, Talata Mafara and Shinkafi.
Although the Federal Government recently lifted a mining ban that lasted more than five years in the state, it is not yet clear if the decision has led to a rise in unlawful operations. Reports, however, indicate that illegal mining continued even while the ban was in force.
Earlier, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, explained that the restriction was lifted after improvements in security conditions. He said the move “will boost regulated mining, improve intelligence gathering, and curb illegal activities to ensure the nation benefits from the state’s resources.”
