Adams Oshiomhole, chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, has reinforced his explosive claim that certain retired military generals, in collaboration with foreign interests, are looting Nigeria’s solid minerals.
Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time Show on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Oshiomhole clarified that his allegations do not implicate all retired generals but a select few. He dismissed claims that he made a sweeping generalisation, emphasising that some former top military officers are complicit in illegal mining activities that continue to rob Nigeria of its natural wealth.
Oshiomhole revealed that his assertion is backed by firsthand information from a retired general who personally witnessed foreigners engaging in illicit mining operations, allegedly with the support of certain ex-military officials. According to him, the retired officer documented his findings in a detailed report, which was submitted to former President Muhammadu Buhari while Oshiomhole was chairman of the ruling party.
The senator recounted his conversation with the whistleblower, explaining that he urged him to compile a concise two-to-three-page summary that outlined the security implications of the illegal activities. Oshiomhole then personally handed the report to Buhari, urging him to contact the retired general for further insights.
“He warned me that if this issue is not checked, what is happening in the Northeast will be child’s play,” Oshiomhole stated, highlighting the potential security risks posed by unchecked mineral theft.
The former Edo State governor expressed disbelief that such large-scale illegal mining could occur without the involvement of influential figures. He questioned how foreign entities, with no geological expertise, could effortlessly locate and extract Nigeria’s valuable mineral resources without inside support.
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“It is absolutely impossible for foreigners, who are not even geologists, to arrive in Nigeria, identify mining sites, extract solid minerals, and transport them out of the country without some powerful people knowing about it,” he argued.
Despite these challenges, Oshiomhole acknowledged that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has begun addressing the crisis. He pointed to the recent deployment of special marshals to guard Nigeria’s mining sites as a significant step in tackling the issue.
With Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth at stake, the senator’s revelations have sparked intense debate, raising questions about the role of powerful insiders in the nation’s resource exploitation. As the Tinubu-led government moves to clamp down on illegal mining, the nation watches closely to see if the culprits will finally be exposed and held accountable.
