Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said that influential Nigerians are providing financial support for banditry and kidnappings within the country.
He further accused these individuals of involvement in illegal mining activities
Alake addressed the House Committee on Solid Minerals at the National Assembly while defending the Ministry’s budget proposal for 2024
The minister said that the Tinubu administration is actively identifying these individuals and intends to take necessary actions against them
“One discovery that we have made is that a lot of these insecurities and banditry associated with this sector are sponsored by illegal miners,” he said
“These are not your artisan miners. They are not the people who pick gold on the ground. These are heavy and powerful individuals in our country. They are Nigerians and not foreigners.”
Kanyi Daily recalls that Dele Alake had revealed why the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, could not win Saturday’s 2023 general election.