Adams Oshiomhole, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, has reiterated his claim that some retired Nigerian military generals are colluding with foreign nationals to illegally mine the country’s solid minerals.
In a follow-up to his earlier comments on Arise TV on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, Oshiomhole clarified that he did not intend to accuse all retired generals, but rather, a select few involved in illicit activities.
In his clarification, Oshiomhole stated, “It’s not sensible to say so. That would be a reckless, sweeping generalisation. That is not what I said. I said the problem is that some, and I still believe it to be so; I know it to be so. I said some retired generals are involved.”
He further explained that the nation has not deployed the same level of force to address the illegal mining activities as it has to protect its oil resources in the Niger Delta.
Oshiomhole’s claims stem from a report provided by a retired general who witnessed foreign nationals, in collaboration with some retired generals, involved in the illegal extraction of Nigeria’s solid minerals.
The senator disclosed that he had urged the retired officer to write a concise report on the matter, which was later submitted to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I pleaded with him to do a summary, not more than two, a maximum of three pages, that I will submit as chairman of the ruling party at that time, that I will submit to the president, who incidentally is a retired general before becoming the president of Nigeria,” Oshiomhole recounted.
He emphasized that the retired officer had warned him of the severe consequences if the illegal activities were not addressed.
According to Oshiomhole, the officer cautioned that the situation in Nigeria’s northeast would pale in comparison to the chaos that could unfold if the issue was left unchecked.
Reflecting on the seriousness of the allegations, Oshiomhole remarked, “It is absolutely impossible for anyone, particularly foreigners, far away outside the African continent, coming to Nigeria, locating a site, not being geologists, and they go straight to where they can find particular solid minerals, and they start mining it, and they take it away.”