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BLUE UPDATE

Retired Army Officials Behind illegal Mining in Nigeria – Adams Oshiomhole

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the head of the Senate Committee on Interior, claims that retired military generals are orchestrating illegal mining activities throughout the nation.



He voiced this accusation during the presentation of the 2025 budget report by Senator Sampson Ekong, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

The former governor of Edo state asserted that the nation’s attempts to diversify its economy will remain futile unless President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration tackles the problem of illegal mining.

“The rampant illegal mining that is taking place across the country is being executed by retired generals, and we are aware of their identities. Indeed, we are well aware of them. Nobody in Africa is oblivious to their presence. I previously wrote a letter to former President Muhammadu Buhari regarding this issue while he was in office.

This concern arose after a team I dispatched to oversee primary elections in a certain location reported challenges in conducting primary elections in Zamfara due to illegal miners.

To combat this threat, we may need to deploy military forces, even to eliminate anyone involved in the unlawful extraction of oil. Furthermore, we should establish Joint Task Forces (JTFs), consisting of Army, Police, and Air Force personnel, to confront them.”



The committee members concurred with Oshiomhole’s statements and recommended that various security agencies accept the challenge.

The panel’s chairman stated that the members collectively agreed to substantially enhance the budget for the Ministry of Solid Minerals.

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