Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, says he has been receiving life-threatening messages subsequent to his revelations about powerful Nigerians involved in illegal mining activities in the nation.
The minister disclosed this during an on-site evaluation of the aftermath of an explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State, where five lives were lost and properties worth billions of naira were destroyed.
Alake, who initially made the comments at the National Assembly regarding the involvement of influential individuals in illegal mining, said he remained resolute despite the threats, emphasizing the necessity of addressing collusion across different societal levels in combating illicit mining.
The minister affirmed the government’s commitment to employing both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to tackle the issue, highlighting collaboration with stakeholders at various levels. He stressed the crucial involvement of host communities in efforts to curb illegal mining, citing the well-funded and heavily armed bandits operating in forests.
In response to the Ibadan explosion, Alake condemned the storage of explosives in residential areas and cautioned against making hasty conclusions. He urged patience until forensic analysis report and investigations by security agencies and the Mines Inspectorate Division of the Ministry of Solid Minerals are complete.
Alake assured justice and declared that accountability would be upheld, irrespective of the social status of those found culpable in connection to the incident.
