The Senator representing Edo North in the National Assembly, Adams Oshiomhole, has alleged that retired military generals are orchestrating illegal mining activities across Nigeria.
Oshiomhole, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Interior, made the claim on Friday during the presentation of the 2025 budget report by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Sampson Ekong, before the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
The former Governor of Edo State, speaking as a member of the Appropriations Committee, stated that these retired generals are well-known figures within the country.
He referenced a letter he had written to former President Muhammadu Buhari during his tenure, drawing attention to the issue of illegal mining and its implications.
Oshiomhole stated, “The ongoing illegal mining across the country is being carried out by retired generals, and we know them. Yes, we know them. Nobody in Africa doesn’t know them. I wrote a letter to former President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter when he was in office.
“This is because a team that I sent to go and conduct the primary somewhere reported back to me the challenge of conducting primary elections in Zamfara because of the illegal miners.”
Oshiomhole also emphasized the need for joint task forces, including the Army, Police, and Air Force, to combat not only illegal mining but also oil theft, advocating for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
“If we have to fight this menace, we need to deploy the Army even to kill anyone who is involved in the illegal pumping of oil. We should also deploy JTFs, comprising the Army, Police, and Air force, against them,” he added.
Oshiomhole further warned that efforts to diversify Nigeria’s economy would remain futile unless President Bola Tinubu’s administration decisively tackled illegal mining operations.
The committee members concurred with Oshiomhole’s observations and called on the nation’s security agencies to intensify their efforts to address the issue.
