Erstwhile Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Kayode Fayemi, says the mining site in Plateau state where 37 miners recently died was shut down with the owner known as Alhaji Dan China arrested during his tenure.
Top Society reports that 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. More than 5 miners were hospitalised due to the accident.
The federal government has ordered an immediate suspension of all mining activities in areas near the Plateau accident site to allow for a comprehensive investigation.
Illegal mining remains a widespread concern in Nigeria, where extractive operations frequently lack both government oversight and basic safety protocols.
Several similar accidents have killed miners in Nigeria previously, including at least 18 people killed last year in Zamfara State in the northwest of the country after a boulder crashed onto an illegal mine during heavy rains.
‘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 the then National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno.
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 leading to his arrest 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.”
