SHOCKER: Policeman killed by Illegal Miners led by Chinese Nationals in Niger State [PHOTO]
A police officer identified as Samson Emmanuel has been confirmed dead following a violent attack by suspected illegal miners at Zuzungi near Kataeregi in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State.
The 26-year-old officer, said to be a native of Chanchaga in Minna, was killed last Wednesday during an ambush targeting a joint patrol team comprising operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and members of a local anti-drug outfit.
This newspaper learned that the patrol had moved toward a mining location after receiving intelligence about suspected illegal extraction and attempts to smuggle minerals from the area. The team reportedly encountered resistance from armed individuals believed to be operating at the site.
The attackers reportedly overpowered the patrol, killing one officer, injuring others, and carting away a service rifle during the clash. Eyewitness reports reveal that some of the suspects involved in the operation were Chinese nationals.
The Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC earlier confirmed the attack, condemning it as a “criminal and barbaric act” and describing it as a direct challenge to law enforcement authorities and the country’s economic interests.
The incident comes amid growing international scrutiny over illegal mining activities in Nigeria. Days before the attack, a group of Republican lawmakers in the United States Congress introduced a bill titled the “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026,” which raises concerns about the alleged role of illegal mining networks in financing armed groups.
The proposed legislation claims that some foreign-linked mining operations may be paying protection fees to militias, thereby fueling insecurity and religious violence, particularly in parts of the Middle Belt. Lawmakers behind the bill argued that such practices contribute to organised attacks on civilian communities and worsen instability in affected regions.
