The Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mohammed, says there are over 100, 000 artisanal miners in the state who produce 10 tonnes of gold annually.
The Governor made this known while inaugurating the Anti-illegal Mining Committee in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.
He said the artisanal miners sold per ton of gold at between 70 to 80 per cent of the international price for gold.
The Federal Government had announced a ban on mining activities in Zamfara State in January 2019, when it believed there was a nexus between insecurity and mining activities. It later constituted an anti-illegal mining squad to check the activities and ensure compliance with the ban.
The inauguration of the Anti-illegal Mining Committee by the Zamfara State Government is meant to complement the Federal government Anti-illegal Mining Squad, to check the activities of the illegal miners.
Governor Mohammed said the link between the worsening insecurity and illegal mining underscores the need to check the activities in the state, to eradicate the criminals.
The Chairman of the Anti-illegal Mining Committee, Abdullahi Shinkafi, promised to discharge their responsibilities by the terms of reference given to them.
He warned illegal miners to desist from their activities, as the committee will not spare anyone found culpable.
The Zamfara State Governor also inaugurated a committee on Government Policies and Development, which are being chaired by the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Ibrahim Wakala.