Governor raises alarm over threats of firearms, explosives among artisanal Miners
Governor raises alarm over threats of firearms, explosives among artisanal Miners
The increasing number of guns and explosives among Niger State’s artisanal miners has deeply alarmed Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who has warned of major security threats that could further destabilize the area.
His worries were prompted by a terrible dynamite explosion that sadly killed three persons and injured numerous others in the Sabon-Pegi hamlet of Mashegu Local Government Area (LGA).
Visiting the site of the explosion, Governor Bago called the incident both “tragic and preventable,” highlighting how Niger State’s rich deposits of gold and lithium have drawn many artisanal miners, some of whom unlawfully possess dangerous explosives and firearms. This, he said, has exacerbated the state’s security challenges.
“We urge the people to surrender their explosives and dangerous weapons to a security committee that includes law enforcement agencies, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), traditional institutions, and other relevant stakeholders for proper and safe storage, rather than keeping them at home,” Bago stated.
To assist the affected community, Governor Bago announced a N174 million relief package for the victims of the explosion, aiming to provide much-needed support for their recovery.
The visit also saw the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, convey President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s condolences and concern.
Idris noted that the president had described the explosion as preventable and directed the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to ramp up advocacy efforts targeting illegal miners to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Local authorities confirmed that the explosion affected 69 people, leading to two fatalities and injuring six others who were treated and discharged. The blast also caused significant property damage, destroying 17 houses, partially damaging 35 others, and affecting nine vehicles.
In response to the escalating security threat, the Mashegu LGA Chairman, Umar Jibrin Igade, announced a temporary ban on artisanal mining within the area.
He also called on his counterpart in the neighboring Magama LGA to enforce a similar ban to strengthen the region’s security measures.
The explosion has brought renewed attention to the need for tighter control and regulation of mining activities in Niger State, as the government seeks to curb the risks posed by unregulated mining operations.
