Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has raised security concerns over artisanal miners, stating that some possess firearms and explosives.
During a visit to Sabon-Pegi in Mashegu LGA, where a dynamite explosion killed three people and injured several others, Bago urged miners to surrender dangerous materials to security agencies.
He announced a N174 million relief package for victims and stressed that illegal mining worsens insecurity in the state.
Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, who accompanied the governor, conveyed President Tinubu’s concerns and directed agencies to intensify awareness campaigns to prevent such incidents.
Mashegu LGA Chairman, Umar Jibrin Igade, confirmed that 69 people were affected, 17 houses destroyed, and a temporary ban on artisanal mining has been imposed.
