By MUHAMMED DANBABA
📍 Abuja, Nigeria – Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, has reiterated his claim that some retired military generals, in collaboration with foreigners, are illegally mining Nigeria’s solid minerals.
Oshiomhole Clarifies His Statement
🔹 Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time Show on February 4, 2025, Oshiomhole emphasized that he never accused all retired generals but rather a select group.
🔹 He described the claim that all retired generals are involved as a “reckless, sweeping generalization.”
🔹 His statement was based on reports from a retired general who personally witnessed foreigners extracting Nigeria’s solid minerals with the help of some retired generals.
A Security Threat Ignored?
Oshiomhole recounted how he:
✅ Urged the retired general to document the situation in a brief report.
✅ Personally submitted the report to former President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to act.
✅ Warned that if unchecked, the illegal mining activities could create a security crisis worse than the insurgency in the Northeast.
“This Cannot Happen Without Powerful Backing”
Oshiomhole questioned how foreigners could locate and mine solid minerals without inside knowledge.
🔹 “It is absolutely impossible for foreigners to come to Nigeria, locate a site without being geologists, find specific minerals, and extract them without help from powerful individuals,” he said.
Tinubu’s Government Takes Action
The Bola Tinubu administration has responded by establishing Mining Marshals to police Nigeria’s mining sites and curb illegal activities.
Why This Matters?
Illegal mining has severe economic and security implications, including:
✅ Revenue loss for Nigeria.
✅ Environmental degradation in mining communities.
✅ Funding for criminal activities through illicit mineral sales.
The government’s latest intervention signals a crackdown on illegal mining, but will it be enough to stop high-profile involvement?
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