Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has alleged that retired Nigerian military generals are deeply involved in illegal mining activities across the country. Oshiomhole, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Interior, made this statement during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Appropriations on Friday, following the presentation of the 2025 budget report by Senator Sampson Ekong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development.
Oshiomhole claimed the identities of these retired generals are widely known, including to him, adding that their involvement is a significant hindrance to Nigeria’s economic diversification efforts. “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,” Oshiomhole said.
He further revealed that during his tenure as Edo State Governor, he had written to former President Muhammadu Buhari about the issue. He recalled instances where illegal mining activities disrupted political processes, citing challenges faced in conducting primaries in Zamfara due to the presence of illegal miners.
Oshiomhole called for decisive action, including deploying Joint Task Forces (JTFs) comprising the Army, Police, and Air Force, to address illegal mining and oil theft. He stated, “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.”
The Senate Committee on Appropriations expressed support for Oshiomhole’s call and urged security agencies to tackle the crisis decisively. The committee emphasized that without addressing illegal mining, President Bola Tinubu’s administration may struggle to achieve its economic goals.