JUST IN; Former Governor raises alarm, accuses retired Army Generals of involvement in illegal mining activities
JUST IN; Former Governor raises alarm, accuses retired Army Generals of involvement in illegal mining activities
In a strong statement made yesterday in Abuja, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the former governor of Edo State and current Chairman of the Senate Committee on Interior, has accused retired military generals of being behind the illegal mining operations plaguing Nigeria.
Oshiomhole’s remarks came during a session where Senator Sampson Ekong, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, presented his report before the Senate Committee on Appropriation.
Oshiomhole, a prominent member of the Appropriations Committee led by Senator Olamilekan Adeola, expressed deep concern over the country’s growing illegal mining crisis.
He warned that unless the administration of President Bola Tinubu urgently addresses these unlawful activities, Nigeria’s ambitions to diversify its economy would remain unattainable.
The former Edo governor emphasized that no amount of funding allocated to the solid minerals sector would yield tangible results unless the rampant illegal mining issue was effectively curbed.
Describing the situation as “embarrassing,” Oshiomhole underscored the urgent need for action to protect Nigeria’s natural resources and ensure the sector’s potential is realized for national development.
Oshiomhole said, “Whereas the federal government is ruthless with people who are doing illegal oil bunkering by deploying the Joint Military Task Force to deal with them, when it comes to illegal mining of solid minerals, the federal government changes. It’s like using different standards and I am very angry about that.
“If we have to fight this menace, we need to deploy the Army even to kill anyone who is involved in the illegal pumping of oil. We should also deploy JTFs, comprising the Army, Police, Air Force, against them. The ongoing illegal mining across the country are being carried out by retired generals and we know them.
“Yes, we know them. I did a letter to former President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter when he was in office. This is because a team that I sent to go and conduct the primary somewhere, reported back to me, the challenge of conducting primary elections in Zamfara because of the illegal miners. The team told me that those illegal miners procure arms the same way the military is doing in South Sudan. They give them arms. They use choppers to come and cart away the gold and they take them out of this country and make billions of U.S. dollars.
“Unfortunately, the federal government is not doing what it should be doing. When I was the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, I took this letter to the former president and said, call the generals to give you more briefing. What was happening or what was supposed to happen in that part of the country was exactly what the general told me was going to happen.
“These guys have been weaponised by the illegal big men. The weaponry was made to protect the Chinese and other foreigners and that’s why they are going to carry out the mining. So, retired military officers, and army officers, are involved in it. The day we can’t tell the truth, this country cannot flourish.
“That is what is going on with the mining sub-sector. It is not that we don’t know where it is. We have a whole survey of where we can find them across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
“My position is that we shouldn’t be lamenting. We should fix the problem. We should tell the executive, you must deploy exactly the same force that you deployed against illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta. That same force should be deployed to deal with criminals who have money. When I say criminal, it can be a retired general, it can be a retired permanent secretary, it can be a retired trade unionist or a retired labour leader.”
She made this known on her Facebook page while reacting to her suspension on Thursday by the Senate as recommended by its Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for six months over “total violation of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 as amended”.
The Senate also approved that her salaries and allowances be suspended.
Reacting, Akpoti-Uduaghan said that “Against the culture of silence, intimidation and victim-shaming; my unjust suspension from the Nigerian Senate invalidates the principles of natural justice, fairness and equity.
“The illegal suspension does not withdraw my legitimacy as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I will continue to use my duly elected position to serve my constituents and country to the best of my ability till 2027 and beyond,” she said. (NAN)
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IGP Egbetokun decorates six new DIGs, AIG at Force Headquarters see (full list)
IGP Egbetokun decorates six new DIGs, AIG at Force Headquarters see (full list)
Following the retirement of six Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has decorated six newly appointed DIGs, in Abuja.
The retired DIGs had served the Nigeria Police Force for 35 years before retirement.
The newly decorated DIGs include DIG Sadiq Idiris Abubakar, previously Commandant of the Police Academy in Wudil, Kano; DIG Benjamin Nebolisa Okolo, former AIG of the Department of Information Communication Technology at Force Headquarters Abuja; DIG Williams Adebowale, formerly Commandant of the Police Staff College Jos; DIG Bzigu Yakubu Kwazi Bali, former AIG of the FCID Annex Enugu; DIG Idegwu Basil Ukuoma, previously AIG of Zone 14, Katsina; and DIG Adebola Ayinde Hamzat, former AIG, Zone 16 Yenagoa.
In addition to these DIG appointments, AIG Kanayo Uzuegbu, who previously served as the Commissioner of Police for the Enugu State Command, was also decorated as a newly promoted Assistant Inspector-General of Police.
This was disclosed via a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Thursday, March 6.
The statement reads: “The Nigeria Police Force marked a significant moment in its history with the formal decoration of six newly appointed Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and one Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., today March 6th 2025. This event follows the recent retirement of six veteran DIGs in March 3rd, 2025, who honorably served the force for 35 years.
“The newly appointed DIGs bring a wealth of experience and expertise from various commands and departments within the NPF. These iconic individuals include DIG Sadiq Idiris Abubakar, previously Commandant of the Police Academy in Wudil, Kano; DIG Benjamin Nebolisa Okolo, former AIG of the Department of Information Communication Technology at Force Headquarters Abuja; DIG Williams Adebowale, formerly Commandant of the Police Staff College Jos; DIG Bzigu Yakubu Kwazi Bali, former AIG of the FCID Annex Enugu; DIG Idegwu Basil Ukuoma, previously AIG of Zone 14, Katsina; and DIG Adebola Ayinde Hamzat, former AIG, Zone 16 Yenagoa.
“In addition to these DIG appointments, AIG Kanayo Uzuegbu, who previously served as the Commissioner of Police for the Enugu State Command, was also decorated as the newly promoted Assistant Inspector-General of Police. During the ceremony, the IGP extended his heartfelt congratulations to the newly decorated officers and emphasized the importance of upholding the values of integrity, professionalism, and service that define the Nigeria Police Force.
“The IGP further charged the officers with inspiring confidence both within the ranks of the Force and among the citizens they are sworn to protect and expressed strong belief in their ability to excel in their new leadership roles and contribute to the continued progress and effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.”
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JUST IN; IG of Police approves appointment of DCP as new Force PSO
JUST IN; IG of Police approves appointment of DCP as new Force PSO
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the appointment of a new Principal Staff Officer (PSO).
He is Deputy Commissioner of Police, (DCP) Ahmed Lateef.
IGP said DCP Lateef brings to the position a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership in various capacities within the Nigeria Police Force.
According to a statement on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi: “Prior to his current posting, DCP Ahmed served as the Police Operations and FPU Coordinator for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
“He was the Personal Assistant to the former IGP, IGP MD Abubakar, and also a Zonal Head of Operations and lead cybercrime investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), having attended various courses both at home and abroad.
“Consequently, the Inspector-General of Police, following the approval of the Police Service Commission, has deployed CP Johnson Adenola as the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, having served diligently as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) of the IGP, contributing significantly to the smooth running of the IGP’s office and the overall administration of the Force.
“CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa has also been deployed as the new CP Enugu State, following the promotion of AIG Uzuegbu Kanayo. CP Mamman once served as the AC PMF FHQ, DC PMF FHQ, and DC Ops Kaduna State Command.
“These strategic deployments are aimed at strengthening the leadership capacity of the Force and ensuring effective policing across the country.
“The IGP has however charged the newly appointed officers to bring forth their wealth of experience in maintaining the core values and ethics of the force in their respective offices, which anchors on decency, transparency, and accountability”