Some of the legislative members of the Niger State House of Assembly have put out an open appeal to the Niger State Government to as a matter of urgency approach the Federal Government of Nigeria on the need to completely ban all the mining activities in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi local governments of Niger state to prevent a recurrence of the Shiroro massacre.
They legislators had taken the decision following a motion which had been raised by Hon. Malik Madaki Bosso, who is the member representing the Bosso Constituency in the House, under the Matter of Urgent Public Importance, brought under order V111 Rule 1V of the Niger State House of Assembly Standing Order, 2019.
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Honourable Bosso, in his presentation, noted the need for both state and federal governments to respond swiftly to the security challenges confronting the state. He had also recalled how about 40 security personnel, including soldiers and policemen who had been attached to a mining site had lost their lives in a gunfire exchange between them and bandits last Wednesday at Agata-Aboki
Afterwards, the House had also resolved that the executive arm of the government should request the Federal Government to ban mining activities in Shiroro, Munya, and Rafi local government areas to save the lives and property of the people.
They also resolved to commiserate with the families of the security personnel that lost their lives in the attack, while calling on both the state and federal governments to urgently respond to the activities of bandits and criminals in the state. A minute silence was then observed by the House for the repose of the souls of the deceased.
It had been previously reported that the Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello who is the Niger State Governor has given out a directive that orders the immediate suspension of all the mining activities in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi Local Government Areas of Niger state.
The order, the Governor had reiterated had also became necessary following continued bandits’ attacks on the councils until further notice.
Some of the bandits attacked a mining site in Ajata Aboki Village in Shiroro LG last Wednesday that resulted in the killing of about 48 persons, including soldiers, mobile police and civilians.
Many sustained various degrees of injuries and several others were kidnapped in the area. This was contained in a statement issued by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Ibrahim Matane in Minna.
The SSG said the decision to suspend activities became necessary as a result of escalating insecurity in those areas in recent times.