He questioned why the government could mobilise a Joint Military Task Force comprising security agencies to tackle oil-related crimes but appeared less aggressive when dealing with illegal miners.
“Whereas the federal government is ruthless with people who are doing illegal oil bunkering by deploying the Joint Military Task Force to deal with them, when it comes to illegal mining of solid minerals, the federal government changes.
It’s like using different standards and I am very angry about that,” Oshiomhole said.
Oshiomhole also alleged that influential individuals, including retired military officers, are involved in illegal mining activities across the country.
He said the identities of some of those allegedly involved are known and questioned why they had not been subjected to the same enforcement measures used against other forms of economic crime.
According to the senator, illegal mining operations have become organised and, in some areas, involve armed groups protecting mining sites and foreign nationals involved in the extraction of minerals.
He alleged that the weapons used to protect mining operations are sometimes also deployed for other crimes, including kidnapping and banditry.
He recalled that, while serving as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, he wrote to former President Muhammadu Buhari over the situation after receiving information about the activities of illegal miners in Zamfara.
Oshiomhole said information provided to him at the time warned of the scale of the problem and the potential security consequences.
Oshiomhole maintained that the issue should not be treated merely as an economic problem because illegal extraction of minerals also has implications for national security.
He argued that powerful sponsors, rather than only the people physically working at mining sites, should be investigated and prosecuted where evidence establishes their involvement.
The senator therefore called on the executive to deploy the same security resources used against illegal oil bunkering to illegal mining operations, regardless of the status of anyone found to be involved.
He said retired generals, former civil servants, labour leaders or other influential individuals should not be treated differently if they are found to have participated in criminal activity.
Oshiomhole’s remarks came as lawmakers were considering increased funding for the solid minerals sector, with the Senate committee recommending a major increase in the ministry’s capital allocation.
He argued that increased funding alone would not solve the sector’s problems unless the government also tackles illegal mining and the criminal networks allegedly sustaining it.
