The Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has addressed concerns from a segment of the public regarding why the military taskforce burns excavators seized from illegal miners.
A section of the public has, on several occasions, criticised the government for directing the destruction and burning of mining equipment, particularly excavators, when the seized equipment could be used for other purposes.
However, in response to these concerns, Fatimatu Abubakar clarified that the burning of excavators was not part of the mandate given to the military taskforce assigned to eradicate illegal mining on water bodies.
Speaking on Adom FM on Thursday, October 17, 2024, Fatimatu Abubakar stated that the government's directive to the taskforce was to either seize the equipment of illegal miners or to decommission it. "There was this misinformation claiming the government took a policy to burn excavators but there was noting of that sort.