Some persons suspected to be illegal artisan miners operating around the MI Wushishi Estate, Minna stormed the estate, killing one person, the estate, the Police Command in Niger has confirmed.
While addressing pressmen in Minna, the command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Wasiu Abiodun said that “on Tuesday at about 1400hrs, a distress call was received that suspected illegal miners, miscreants and thugs engaged in a fight and were attacking houses in the estate.”
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Maitumbi Division led a patrol team to the scene where they dispersed the hoodlums. He added that one person, whose identity had yet to be ascertained, was killed by the miscreants, and was taken to the General Hospital morgue.
Normalcy has since been restored to the M. I Wushishi Housing Estate with the patrol team stationed to forestall further recurrence. He said that an investigation had commenced to arrest the fleeing suspects.
The armed suspects invaded the estate in large numbers, vandalising vehicles, houses and people’s property, at a time when many residents were away.
The State Government recently banned the activities of illegal miners in the state, owing to the spike in insecurity and environmental challenges.