Illegal Mining; Niger APC Chieftain, Vatsa Backs Oshiomole over comment, Asks Government to make public committee reports of soldiers, police officers killed at Niger Mining Site
From Our Correspondent.
As Nigerians continue to reacts over the recent comment credited to the former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole alleging that both retired and serving Military General are behind illegal mining, especially in the north, the former commissioner for information, culture and tourism and chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Niger State, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa has thrown his weight behind him, describing Oshiomole,s claims as honest and religious truth.
Hon. Vatsa in a statement in Minna on Thursday titled “I am solidly behind comrade Adams Oshiomole on illegal mining”, and made available to newsmen, said the large scale illegal mining going on in the country especially in the north did not only have the full backing of retired generals in the country, but also political elites and top business class.
These illegal mining activities which he said, has no place in the country economy, is hugely responsible to the unending security challenges in the north, adding that “both political and traditional leaderships in the north, including top business class are fully aware of this illegal but lucrative activities”.
According to him, “nobody who has conscience and the fear of God will want to fault Oshiomole over his comment on the illegal mining in the country. He just hit the nail on the head; it is what everybody is aware but are not ready to say anything about it”.
The former publicity secretary of the APC in the state expressed regret that while illegal mining blossomed in the north with millions of dollars going into individual pockets everyday without hindrance, the government has continue to militarize the Niger Delta region over illegal oil bunkering, wondering whether gold is not part of natural resources of the country.
He argued that gold is more expensive than crude oil in the international market today, “but unfortunately the government has decided to turn its back on illegal gold mining in the country and allowed individuals and their foreign collaborators to continue to short changed the country”.
Vatsa maintained that the current insecurity situation in parts of the country, north in particular cannot be separated from illegal mining, saying that “what is going on in the north is nothing but economic war. People hide under banditry to illegally mine gold and other mineral resources across the region and everybody is aware of this but there is no political will to confront the situation”, he added.
He disclosed that in June 2022, about 34 soldiers and eight mobile policemen were gruesomely murdered at Ajata Aboki, Erena ward of Shiroro local government area of Niger State by gunmen while providing security at a mining site in the area, stressing that both the government and the military authority kept sealed lips over the unfortunate incident.
“This is three years now after that unfortunate incident but nobody has come out to tell Nigerians the truth behind the killing of these promising Nigerian soldiers and policemen. Who is the owner of that mining site where soldiers and policemen were providing security, who ordered the deployment of the soldiers and the policemen to the mining site?
“These were questions Nigerians have been expecting the government to provide the answers but nobody has said anything about it. How can a government sweep such a national disaster under the carpet if not that some highly placed individuals are behind the deployment of these soldiers to the mining site.
“It is on record that after the incident, the then governor of the state, Sani Bello banned all mining activities in the state and set up a committee to investigate the circumstance that led to the killing of those soldiers and the mobile policemen but three after, nothing has been said about it, this a tragedy of a nation.
“Before anybody crucified Oshiomole over his allegation, let the government and the military authority made public the findings of the committee that investigated the killing of these soldiers and the policemen at Ajata Aboki mining site in Niger State.
“Oshiomole has not said anything contrary to what every Nigerian already knows. Our leaders at all levels know those who are behind the illegal mining in the country, they are untouchable and they can make you lose election as a politician if you go after them, so that is the situation we found ourselves.
He however submitted that until the government takes a drastic action against the ongoing illegal mining in the country, the security situation will persist, pointing out that “Bandits usually avoid these miners and go after innocent farmers in our communities because they operate in synergy”.
