Dozens kidnapped in northwest Nigeria after bandits invite them to talks

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By Reuters and Posted by TOE Armed bandits in northwest Nigeria abducted dozens of villagers whom they invited to a meeting ‌about potential peace negotiations, authorities and residents said on ‌Monday, highlighting the region’s worsening security. Police said 39 people were seized on Sunday ​when they went to a meeting in the forest near Magamin Diddi village in the Maradun municipality of northwest Zamfara State. Some local residents and officials said the number could be as ‌high as 50. According to ⁠a Zamfara State Police Command statement, the victims were meeting relatives of a bandit leader in ⁠an attempt to broker peace and ease restrictions on movement imposed on the community. Zamfara is at the centre of a long-running security ​crisis in ​which armed groups, locally referred ​to as bandits, carry ‌out mass kidnappings, killings and village raids. The violence has disrupted farming and displaced thousands. Security forces have deployed personnel and...
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Dominican Republic creates state miner to explore for rare earths

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By Sarah Morland Reuters

The Dominican Republic on Tuesday said it will create a state mining firm to explore and exploit the nation’s key mining resources, including rare earth minerals.

The Dominican presidency said in a statement that the state firm, Empresa Minera Dominicana S.A., or Emidom, will explore, exploit and run economic viability studies on the country’s natural resources.

The firm will be able to negotiate contracts and alliances with international firms and it will have a nine-member board, led by the minister of the presidency.

Emidom is also tasked with managing the Avila mining reserve in southern Pedernales province, which borders with Haiti and was in 2018 declared an area to be explored for possible rare earth projects.

Last year the U.S. military, opens new tab said a team of its engineering researchers worked with local authorities in the highlands of Pedernales to evaluate the area’s viability.

The Caribbean nation is home to Canadian firm Barrick Gold’s (ABX.TO), opens new tab Pueblo Viejo, the largest gold mine in Latin America and the Caribbean.



from The Times Of Earth https://ift.tt/PTN7Y26

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