Banditry activities known for solid minerals mining sites in Somalia, Congo, Sierra Leone and Liberia, among other African countries may have started playing out in some states blessed with choice solid minerals like gold and Lead-Zinc and others in Nigeria as insecurity rages.
Fact check showed that activities of criminals in the sector have stopped exploration and exploitation of gold in Zamfara State; Lead-Zinc mining in Zurak, Taraba State; exploration activities in Southern Kaduna restricted due to frequent kidnappings and exploration and small scale mining in Igangan, Oyo state, infiltrated by herdsmen. In Osun State recently, two Chinese were abducted by gunmen, who invaded a mining site in Ifewara, Atakunmosa West local government.
The spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, in a statement said a gang of criminals attacked and abducted the two Chinese namely: Zhao Jian, 33 years, and Wen, 50 years at Okepa/Itikan Village, the gold mining site in Ifewara, in which two private guards were shot. Experts alleged that foreigners and locals were aiding the infiltration while urging the government to have a strong and digitised cadastral system to address the challenge.
