ASHENEWS reports that the Niger state Commandant, War Against Kidnapping and Criminality Security Service, Salihu Aboki has said that the killing of one of its personnel by youths around Maitumbi area of Minna was not linked to any illegal mining activity.
Speaking to newsmen in Minna, the Commandant said the deceased had gone to arrest one of the teenagers involved in a quarrel when he was resisted by the youths in the area and stabbed.
According to him, two teenagers had been involved in a quarrel and were reported by the parents of one of the teenagers. He added that when the unit was informed, they sent some personnel to arrest one of the teenagers and they succeeded, however, in the process of arresting the second teenager, there was resistance by the youths in the area.
“The Maitumbi boys refused to allow the deceased official to arrest the boy. They questioned him and asked him why he came to their vicinity to arrest one of them. There was a heated argument and the boys brought out dangerous weapons and attacked my officials. Others escaped but this one could not and was stabbed.”
He debunked the rumours going around the state capital that the deceased was killed due to illegal mining activities around Maitumbi.
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In a related development, the state Commissioner of Mineral Resources, Garba Sabo said that stories making rounds that the incident had links to the illegal mining going on around Maitumbi were false, malicious and an attempt to tarnish the image of the Ministry.
He said that the incident took place opposite the site and it occurred in the night adding that the news was made to cause trouble in the society and discredit the ministry’s effort in tackling illegal mining activities across the state.
