Senator Adams Oshiomhole has again accused some retired military generals of working with foreigners to steal Nigeria’s solid minerals. He clarified that he was not referring to all retired generals but only a few involved in these illegal activities.
Oshiomhole first made this claim on Arise TV on February 4, 2025. He later explained that his statement was based on a report from a retired general who had witnessed illegal mining operations involving foreigners and some former military official.
The senator revealed that a retired general shared details of how foreigners are illegally extracting Nigeria’s solid minerals with the help of some retired military officers. Oshiomhole requested the retired general to write a two-to-three-page report about the situation. He then submitted this report to former President Muhammadu Buhari, who is also a retired general.
According to Oshiomhole, he advised the retired general to include his phone number in the report so that President Buhari could contact him for more details. The retired officer also warned that if illegal mining is not stopped, the country could face serious security challenges, possibly worse than the current crisis in the Northeast.?
Oshiomhole expressed concern over how foreigners, who are not geologists, are able to locate and extract valuable minerals in Nigeria. He believes this would not be possible without insider help.
“It is impossible for foreigners, who are far away from Africa, to come to Nigeria, find solid minerals, and start mining without inside help,” he said.
The senator also questioned why Nigeria is not using the same level of security to protect its solid minerals as it does for oil in the Niger Delta. He urged the government to take strong action to stop illegal mining and prevent further security threats.
Oshiomhole’s claims highlight the ongoing problem of illegal mining in Nigeria. He believes that if authorities do not take immediate steps, the country’s security and economy could suffer greatly.
The government must act fast to investigate these claims, hold those involved accountable, and strengthen security around Nigeria’s solid mineral resources.
