Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, has declared that powerful illegal miners have been linked to the activities of bandits, terrorists and kidnappers.
Alake disclosed this when he led a Federal Government team on a condolence visit to the Oyo State Government over Tuesday’s explosion at Bodija estate in Ibadan.
According to the minister, highly placed Nigerians were behind banditry associated with illegal mining in Nigeria, adding that terrorism and insecurity which were being associated with the mining sector were actually sponsored by illegal miners who are powerful people in the society.
“There are lots of connivance among the strata of the society —- both high, medium and low classes of the society —- in the nation’s mining sector.
“But the Federal Government is working together with the state and local governments, as well as the host communities, who have efficient knowledge of the local terrain to address the issue.
“Illegal mining is not exclusive to the high class alone, but cuts across the strata of our society. So, we are employing both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies and tactics to address the menace,” Alake said.
He said the Federal Government was awaiting the final report of the forensic investigations into the causes, effects and possible remedy to the Bodija estate explosion, adding that it was going to be after this that government would take critical decisions on the unfortunate incident.
“It would be presumptuous for the Federal Government to take any solid pronouncement or categorical announcement now.
“We will examine all the forensic analysis reports, and all the investigations from all the agencies and various intelligence arms of the security agencies.
“They are all working round the clock to provide an authentic and viable forensic report to the Federal Government.
“When the reports are ready, the Federal Government will be on a solid platform to make an informed judgment and a categorical statement.
“The final forensic report will also help the Federal Government in taking appropriate decisions concerning the victims of this ugly incident.
“Anything before then will be presumptuous and can be misleading at the end of the day,” he said.
The minister urged Nigerians to be conscious and always report suspicious movements and businesses in their environment, noting that failure to report early always leads to negative results.
“We need to be safety-conscious and develop the attitude of reporting atrocious activities in our neighbourhood.
“For example, no one will expect that such deadly explosives could be stored in an elite estate like this without suspicion,” he said.
