Lawyer Urges Nigerian Government To Probe Oshiomhole’s Allegations Of Military Backing For Illegal Mining
The Nigerian government has been urged to address allegations by Senator Adams Oshiomhole that senior military officers, including some retired generals, are aiding foreign miners in illegal mining activities across the country.
Mr. Leonard Anyogo, a notary public, made this call during a morning discussion program, Let’s Talk Nigeria, on Sparkling FM. He described Oshiomhole’s claims as “weighty” and said it would be irresponsible for the federal government to ignore them.
In a viral video, Oshiomhole, a former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accused high-ranking military officials of colluding with foreign miners, particularly from China, to exploit Nigeria’s mineral resources illegally. He alleged, “Very senior military generals are behind illegal mining in the country, backing many Chinese to plunder the mining resources. They have weaponised the processes. They fly in helicopters, carry away resources worth billions of dollars, and do so with impunity, without anyone challenging them.”
Oshiomhole revealed that he had previously reported the issue to former President Muhammadu Buhari during his tenure but said the president failed to act. He also questioned whether Nigeria operates different laws for the powerful and the less privileged.
Anyogo emphasised that the allegations, coming from a serving senator, cannot be dismissed and called on the Public Prosecution Commission to disclose the names of the accused military officers. “The allegations by Senator Oshiomhole against some serving and retired senior military officers are very weighty and must not be overlooked,” he said.
He further advised the government to act swiftly to protect Nigeria’s resources and attract direct investment, warning that failure to do so could harm the country’s reputation internationally.
Listeners who called into the radio program expressed outrage over the allegations and demanded immediate action. Some urged Oshiomhole to disclose the names of the implicated generals, arguing that transparency is crucial to restoring public trust.
The government has yet to respond to the allegations, but pressure is mounting for an official inquiry into the claims and a broader effort to tackle illegal mining, which continues to deplete Nigeria’s natural resources.
