Mr Dele Alake who is the Minister of Solid Mineral has come out to allege that some ‘powerful’ Nigerians involved in illegal mining are sponsoring banditry and terrorism in the country.
He made this allegation on Tuesday when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals for the ministry’s 2024 budget defence in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Alake also alleged that foreigners also engage in illegal mining in the country. He called on the Federal Government to pay close attention to the mining sector which would take in trillions for the country annually.
Africa Today News, New York reports that militants have been establishing presence in northwest and central Nigeria outside their traditional northeast base where they have been waging a more than 13-year-old insurgency.
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The bandit militias terrorise local communities where they raid villages, kill and kidnap residents for ransom as well as burn homes after looting them.
Recall that the Federal Government had last week explained why resolved not to name and shame identified financiers of terrorism in the country.
Mr Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who is the Attorney General and Minister of Justice made this disclosure in an interview on the sidelines of the 27th Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) Ministerial Committee Meeting in Abuja.
He had earlier stated that the Federal Government has identified terrorism financiers in the country.
This was even as the government has flagged off the release of 4,068 prisoners in various correctional centres across the country.
Fagbemi said the government would not go into name and shame because it may jeopardise further investigation or apprehension of other people involved.
Earlier in his speech, Fagbemi, while commending the good work GIABA is doing in the effort to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in West Africa, noted that it is incumbent on member states to provide all the support that is necessary for the group to conduct its work in a more effective and efficient manner.