The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has called for the establishment of an Army battalion in Zurak, Plateau State, to strengthen security and tackle illegal mining activities.
Alake made the call while receiving the report of the High-Level Investigation Committee set up to investigate the February 18 mining gas poisoning incident in Wase Local Government Area of the state.
About 37 people died, while 25 others were hospitalised after exposure to toxic gases at an underground mining site in Kampani Zurak.
The minister said deploying military personnel alongside strengthening the Mining Marshals would help secure mining sites, deter illegal operators and prevent a recurrence of the tragedy.
He described effective enforcement as the most reliable approach to tackling illegal mining, stressing the need to equip the Mining Marshals with additional personnel, modern technology and operational resources.
Alake disclosed that the Mining Marshals had recovered more than 100 mining sites from illegal operators, with several suspects arrested and prosecuted. a
He, however, noted that the agency could not permanently secure the recovered sites, making a sustained security presence necessary.
The minister explained that Zurak’s remote location and difficult terrain made it challenging for security personnel and mining inspectors to monitor activities and enforce regulations.
He said the proposed Army battalion would complement the efforts of the Mining Marshals and strengthen security in the area.
Earlier, the committee’s co-chairman, Faruk Yabo, said investigations established that the victims died in an abandoned underground mining tunnel where carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide had accumulated because of inadequate ventilation.
Yabo explained that the abandoned mining tunnels dated back to the German and British colonial eras and had continued to attract unauthorised miners searching for minerals.
He said the victims were not employees of Solid Unit Nigeria Limited, the company operating under Mining Licence 11810, but illegal miners who entered the abandoned workings.
The committee, however, recommended that the company fence and secure the affected abandoned mining sites within its concession area.
Other recommendations included strengthening security around mining lease areas, sensitising host communities, providing skills acquisition programmes and improving the operational capacity of regulatory agencies.
The committee also called for a nationwide audit and the securing of abandoned and legacy mining sites to prevent similar incidents.
Alake commended the committee for its work and said the ministry would forward the recommendations to relevant authorities for consideration and implementation.
