At least seven people have been killed in a clash between suspected bandits and illegal miners at Kuyello in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Residents say the violence began after miners allegedly killed a bandit who demanded payment, prompting a reprisal attack by his group.
Community leader Umar Maishanu told reporters that the attackers stormed the mining site and opened fire, killing several people, including some miners. Security operatives have since been deployed to the area to prevent further violence, though police are yet to confirm the incident.
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The clash occurred in a region that had enjoyed relative peace for nearly a year under the Kaduna State Government’s non-kinetic peace initiative. Residents are now calling for an outright ban on illegal mining to avert renewed instability.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has warned that illegal mining poses a serious threat to West Africa’s peace and development. He urged regional leaders to classify resource theft and mineral smuggling as international crimes undermining the region’s economic stability.
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