Minister of Solid Minerals Mr. Dele Alake has blamed the banditry and crimes in the mining industry on powerful Nigerians he didn’t name.
Alake spoke when he led a Federal Government delegation to pay a condolence visit to the Oyo State Government over Tuesday’s explosion at Bodija Estate in Ibadan.
According to him, majority of the cases of banditry, terrorism and insecurity recorded in the mining sector were sponsored by illegal miners who are powerful people in the society.
He said: “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”.
The minister said that the Federal Government would await the final report of the forensic investigations into the causes, effects and possible remedy to the Bodija estate explosion.
Alake however said 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”, he said.
“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”, he added.
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