Senator Adams Oshiomhole has made serious allegations that some retired military generals are deeply involved in coordinating illegal mining activities across Nigeria.
Speaking during a Senate session, Oshiomhole warned that efforts to diversify Nigeria’s economy through solid minerals would be futile if the issue of unauthorized mining isn’t addressed head-on. He stated:
“The ongoing illegal mining across the country is being carried out by retired generals and we know them… they use choppers to cart away the gold and make billions of US dollars.”
He noted a worrying discrepancy: while the government deploys robust military forces against oil bunkering in the Niger Delta, similar zeal is absent when tackling mineral theft. Oshiomhole urged the same forceful measures used against oil bunkering to be applied against illegal mining.
Reactions to his claims have been split:
- Some lawmakers and mining sector stakeholders applauded his brave stance and called for investigations.
- Certain retired generals swiftly dismissed the allegations as baseless and damaging to their reputation.
Oshiomhole’s remarks raise urgent questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s mining sector and whether state-level oversight can effectively neutralize entrenched interests.
