The Emir of Anka and the Chairman of the Zamfara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, has said the declaration of Zamfara State as “No fly zone” and banning of mining activities by the Federal Government was not in the best interest of the people.

The Emir, who spoke during the visit of the service chiefs to the state, led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, said the declaration would cripple the socioeconomic development of the state.

He noted that what was happening in Zamfara state was not different from what happened in Katsina, Niger, Borno and Yobe states.

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“The No fly zone declaration was wrongly placed on Zamfara State, as the act of banditry was not peculiar to Zamfara.

“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 will support illegal mining. 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 flying zone order placed on the state.