Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti, says the mining site in Plateau state where 37 miners died was shut down during his tenure as the minister of solid minerals development.
Fayemi served as the minister of solid minerals development
from 2015 to 2018 under the administration of the late former President
Muhammadu Buhari.
Last Wednesday, at least 37 miners died after being exposed
to carbon monoxide while working in an underground mining site in Zurak, Wase
LGA of Plateau state.
Over 25 miners were hospitalised due to the incident,
following which the federal government ordered the closure of the mining site.
‘OPERATORS OF PLATEAU MINING SITE WERE ARRESTED IN 2017’
In a statement released via X on Sunday, Fayemi said he
visited the Zurak mining site in 2017 alongside Babagana Monguno, then national
security adviser (NSA).
The former minister said he ordered the immediate closure of
the mining site and the arrest of illegal Chinese operators.
Fayemi said the purported owner of the mining site,
identified as “Alhaji Dan China”, was declared wanted by the police and later
arrested but was later released after he left office.
“As minister of mines, I visited the mines with the NSA and
the governor following numerous complaints from the community,” the statement
reads.
“We embargoed mining at the sites, arrested the illegal
Chinese operators, and declared the purported owner of the illegal lead and
zinc mines, Alhaji Dan China, wanted.
“He was eventually apprehended and brought to book by the
National Security Adviser but was released after I left office.
“My preliminary discussions with officials of the Ministry,
as well as with the former Deputy Speaker and Wase representative in the House
of Representatives, Rt Hon Idris Wase, indicate that this tragedy occurred at
the same mine.
“It could have been avoided if the security agencies had
sustained the action taken by the Ministry in 2017.
“My sincere condolences go to the families of the deceased.
Government must now take firm and decisive action against operators who violate
the law and environmental regulations, regardless of whose interests are
affected. Mining activities must not be conducted to the detriment of host
communities.”
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