The Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) has absolved its members of complicity in the incessant killings and kidnappings by armed bandits in Zamfara State and other parts of the country.
MAN’s clarification came against the Federal Government’s ban on all mining activities in Zamfara State, with its airspace declared a no-fly-zone.
National President of the association, Kabir Kankara, described his members as victims of circumstance, but said the measures taken by President Muhammadu Buhari was timely and a welcomed development.
“Yes, our mining activities occur in the bush but we do not have links with bandits; we are just victims of circumstance. To the best of my knowledge, our members have no connection with bandits. We are in line with any measure proffered by the Federal Government to forestall insecurity in Zamfara.”
Kankara said the ban on mining activities and restriction on air transport in Zamfara was for the safety of lives and property.
