The emir of Anka and Chairman of the Zamfara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Attahiru Muhammad Ahmad, has said that the declaration of Zamfara State as a “No-fly-zone” and banning of mining across the state by the federal government was not in the best interest of the people of the state.
The emir, who spoke during a visit of the service chiefs to the state led by the chief of defense staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, said the declaration of Zamfara State as a No-fly zone would only cripple the socio-economic development of the state.
He noted that what was happening in Zamfara was not different from what happened in Katsina, Niger, Borno, and Yobe States.
“The No-fly zone declaration was wrongly placed on Zamfara State, as the act of banditry was not peculiar to Zamfara state,” he added.
He said, “Act of banditry has nothing to do with mining activities as the ban will cause more trouble to the people of the state.
“Let me state clearly that, no well-meaning citizen would support illegal mining but we want the federal government to look into this declaration, especially, as some miners have legal instruments to conduct their business.”
He called on the Service Chiefs to explore meaningful ways to effectively fight the recalcitrant bandits instead of the no-fly zone order placed on the state.