Niger Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has again raised the over rising security risks posed by artisanal miners in the state, who he alleged were in possession of firearms and explosives.

He spoke, yesterday when he accompanied the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during a visit to Sabon-Pegi community in Mashegu Local Government Area, where a dynamite explosion at a miner’s residence led to death, injuries and destruction of properties.

During the tour which had Mohammed Umaru Bago, former governor and Senator representing Niger North, Abubakar Sani Bello, the Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, among others top ranking government officials, Governor Bago noted that illegal mining activities have surged, leading to dangerous stockpiling of explosives by miners.

“We urge the people to surrender their explosives and dangerous weapons to a security committee comprising law enforcement agencies, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), traditional institutions, and other relevant stakeholders for safe storage, rather than keeping them at home,” he stated.

To support victims of the explosion, Governor Bago announced a N174 million relief package. He assured affected families that the government remains committed to strengthening security measures and curbing illegal mining activities.

Speaking on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, Idris described the incident as a preventable tragedy and emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling illegal mining.
He emphasised that the storage of explosives devices for illegal mining pose significant risks to lives and property and urged those involved to desist immediately.

He disclosed that the president had directed the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to reorganise the sector to curtail illegalities.

“These are tragedies that are virtually man-made and we cannot allow that to continue and the President has directed that the National Orientation Agency step up its campaigns and advocacy and enlightenment to all Nigerians particularly those in this illegal mining activities. This community is endowed with a lot of mineral resources.

“Only recently, the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development embarked on re-organisation of mining activities around the country and we do hope that they will take this lesson very seriously.”

Commissioner of Police, Shawulu Danmamman, described the dynamite explosion as unfortunate.

The explosion occurred due to the indiscriminate storage of dynamite in residential areas, which the community allegedly concealed.