Federal Government has warned foreign nationals funding banditry that they would be prosecuted for economic sabotage and waging war against the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake issued the warning through a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori on Thursday in Abuja.
The warning followed preliminary reports of non-Nigerians involved in mining business as funders of such operations and reports of twelve (12) miners allegedly killed by bandits in the Ungwan-Magro community of Shiroro Local Government Area in Niger State.
Alake urged embassies in Nigeria to monitor activities of their nationals in the sector, as allegations of criminal conduct could pose serious threats to bilateral relations between Nigeria and other countries.
The minister noted that mining operations in the area have been banned as part of measures to fish out the perpetrators of the crime
He added, “Meanwhile, no form of mining will be allowed to occur at the scene of the attack until security agencies have concluded investigations into the attack.”
Alake condemned the act and vowed to avenge the deaths of the miners, saying that security agencies were already on trail of the perpetrators and would soon bring them to justice.
The minister further assured that security agencies would not rest until mining sites across the country were secure.
According to the minister, the
He reiterated that the agencies are determined to address incursion of bandits and criminal elements attempting to seize mineral-rich areas for illegal mining through violence.
