Shehu Sani warns that illegal mining fuels banditry in the north and urges governors to take responsibility for regional security.

Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has called on Northern governors to take greater responsibility for regional security, highlighting that illegal miners are working in cahoots with bandits in the north.

Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, regarding recent efforts to curb insecurity, Sani noted that the Northern Governors’ meeting was long overdue, given the sustained attacks by terrorist groups and bandits over the past 15 years. He stressed that as the chief executives of their states, governors must spearhead coordinated regional actions to tackle criminality.

“The Northern Governors’ meeting was long overdue. In the very sense that the region has come under sustained attack by terror groups and bandits in the last 15 years and since the coming of this administration, there has not been a serious regional effort in terms of addressing the problem. And I believe that the governors being the chief executives of the state, hold in some way the ace as far as regional effort is concerned in tackling this criminality.

“One of their resolutions was that there should be suspension of mining activities. Well, it is a fact that in states like Zamfara, Niger States, and parts of Nassarawa State, illegal miners are working in cahoots with these bandits. And for that very fact, there is a need to secure that very area.”

He further emphasised that illegal mining generates hundreds of millions of dollars but remains largely uncontrolled, making it a significant economic and security concern.

“Suspension of this mining will help in some way, but not always. In the very sense that when you go to the hinterlands of Niger States, you will see that most of the areas where these bandits are operating are areas where these illegal mining activities are taking place. And as such, it becomes very difficult to separate who is a miner and who is a bandit.

“That suspension will give the military and our security agencies the authority and the leverage to go into such ungoverned spaces and take actions as far as this is concerned. And these mining activities generate hundreds of millions of dollars. And we are still not in control of that part of our country and that is an important and significant component of our economy. So I support that.”

Sani also pointed to the local origins of the bandit and terrorist groups, warning that regional leaders must acknowledge these are Nigerian citizens responsible for much of the violence. “The bandits in the northwest are basically Fulanis. I don’t believe that people will keep on saying that these are people who come from Mali, Burkina Faso,” he said.

Highlighting the devastating impact on agriculture, education, and daily life, Sani said, “I still cannot understand how a nation of 230 million people would be held ransom by a gang of less than 5,000.” (ARISE NEWS)