The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested 21 suspected illegal miners during a joint security operation in Zurmi and Maradun Local Government Areas of the state.
The arrests were made on January 31, 2026, following repeated reports of illegal mining activities in the affected communities.
The coordinated operation took place at Boko Village in Zurmi local government and Kaya Village in Maradun loval government councils.
It involved operatives of the Police Anti-Illegal Mining Unit, Tactical and Bomb Disposal Units, working in collaboration with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and officials of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the suspects are currently undergoing investigation by the Taskforce on Illegal Mining. He added that further details would be made public as investigations progress.