Nigeria to prosecute foreigners who fund banditry

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on Thursday vowed that the Federal Government would bring to justice foreign nationals funding banditry in the country.

Alake, who gave the warning in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, said any foreign national arrested by security agents for such acts would be charged with economic sabotage and waging war against the Nigerian state.

He said the warning followed initial reports of funding of banditry by non-Nigerians in the mining industry.

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The minister added that the warning also came in response to the alleged killing of 12 miners by bandits in Ungwan-Magro community, Shiroro local government area of ​​Niger State.

He urged embassies in Nigeria to monitor the activities of their nationals in the sector as allegations of criminal behaviour could pose a serious threat to bilateral relations between Nigeria and other countries.

Alake revealed that the federal government had banned mining in Shiroro LGA in a bid to catch the perpetrators of the crime.

“In the meantime, no form of mining will be allowed to take place at the site of the attack until security agencies complete their investigation into the attack,” he said.

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