Zamfara bans gold ore processing in Gusau
From MOHAMMED MUNIRAT NASIR, Gusau
FOLLOWING the alarm raised by the Emir of Gusau, [Sarkin Katsina Gusau], Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Danbaba over the fresh outbreak of the dreaded Lead poisoning in Gusau Emirate, the Zamfara State Government yesterday banned the processing of gold ore in Gusau and other parts of the state.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser on Environmental Sanitation Agency, Alhaji Marwan Haruna Abdulkarim Mafara in Gusau, saying the measure was taken by the state government to prevent reoccurrence of the disease in the state.
The Special Adviser warned those involved in the dangerous acts to desist as the state government will not hesitate to prosecute violators no matter the status of the violator in the society.
“We will no longer tolerate, those involved in the deadly business to desist from their nefarious activities as their illegal business is causing more havoc to the society by causing serious illness and even deaths in most cases”, he said.
The ban is coming from the government despite earlier claim by officials of the state government denouncing the special announcement by the Emir over the fresh outbreak of lead poisoning in his emirate.
It will be recalled that the emir in repeated special announcements aired on the state-owned media outfit, Zamfara Radio said the emirate has received the report of several cases of people mostly children who are having symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting of blood in about four areas of Gusau Emirate.
The emirate blamed the new outbreak in Gusau on the activities of some unscrupulous elements that he said are processing gold ore in the affected areas.
“What happened in Anka and Bukuyyum sometimes back, which led to many people in the areas losing their lives is now happening to us in Gusau Emirate as doctors have examined and confirmed it”, he said in the announcement.
The state Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Kabir Muhammad Janyau said he heard the announcement on radio too but that the ministry is yet to receive any report on fresh outbreak of the disease in Gusau or any part of the state.
Janyau however faulted the claim by the Emir, saying Zamfara is the only state in the country which has laboratory to examine and authenticate cases of lead poisoning and that the claim by the emir was not confirmed by the state Ministry of Health.
The areas found to have illegal gold ore processing spots include Samaru, Polo shopping complex, Danmaikyau, Ginneries, Gada Berger, Tsunami and Maitaushe areas in Gusau Emirate council.
Presently, there is controversy going on in Zamfara over the issue of lead poisoning while the emirate and people of the state believe there is lead outbreak in Gusau Emirate. Government officials are disclaiming the announcement by the Emir.
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Emmanuel Bello
But this is inbasel,how can this so called janyau neglect the emir’s announcement its killing lives why can’t they consider this??
Lead poisining is not the only out break we have so many like maleria becouse people of zamfara state are always dieying in the cause of maleria so government should try to lead erradicate maleria lead poisining is a new out break that only affect single local government but maleria is affecting people every where & every day people are kicking bocket as result of maleria so we are advising government to put more impasis on maleria that always killing people?
I hav 4 shops in Polo complex of Gusau, I hv bn around for d past 6 months, it’s a cookd story, no one is sufring or died from in connection to lead, every1 around me is fine, including d miners.