The Federal Government has summoned all
its mines officers in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal
Capital Territory over alleged diversion of explosives to militants.
The Minister of Solid Minerals
Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said on Friday in Abuja that the measure
was aimed at cooperating with the security agencies in ensuring the
security of lives and property in the country.
Fayemi, in a statement in Abuja by his
Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, said that the directive
was also part of measures to strengthen the institutional capacity of
the ministry.
The Office of the National Security
Advisers on Thursday said that security agents had arrested no fewer
than seven people for allegedly diverting explosives to militants.
Also on Thursday, the Ministry of Solid
Minerals Development ordered the immediate sealing of the premises of
Messrs Nigerian Development and Construction Company over alleged
diversion of explosives.
Fayemi, in the statement issued on
Friday, said all the mines officers should to report to the headquarters
of the ministry in Abuja.
According to him, they will be given
further directives on their next assignments. He said letters had been
dispatched to the officers through state and zonal offices of the
ministry nationwide.
The minister said the ministry would not
leave any stone unturned in the bid to reposition the sector for
effective service delivery.
He stated the ministry was committed to
the actualisation of the economic diversification and job creation goals
of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
Fayemi said, “In the pursuit of our
mandate to deepen the productivity of the mining industry, we will
continue to collaborate with all stakeholders to guarantee that the
security of lives and property, as well as safety of the environment is
not compromised.”
Meanwhile, some retired military
officers and security experts have said the alleged diversion of the
explosives is tantamount to an attempt to destroy the country.
They warned against sabotaging the Federal Government’s efforts in tackling militancy in the country.
A former military administrator of Ondo State, Col. Ahmed Usman (retd), called for thorough investigation into the allegation.
He said, “Let the allegation be
confirmed that they supplied the explosives before we can classify the
suspects as terrorists and deal with them. There is a normal procedure
for everything. Before you can call someone a thief, you must catch him
red handed stealing.
“If after investigation, it is
discovered that the suspects actually committed the offence, it is up to
the authorities to deal with them according to the stipulated law.
“The friend of a thief is a thief too.
So, if one is caught with his friend stealing or he steals and brings
the goods to his friend’s house for safe keeping and you are caught,
what do you call that? They should be treated equally, that is how it
should be.”
Another retired military officer, Col.
Kunle Falayi, said decisive steps should be taking in investigating and
prosecuting the suspects already arrested the same way saboteurs and
terrorists should be prosecuted.
Falayi said, “If recognised firms sell
such explosives to people seeking to destroy our country, they are
supporting terrorism and have to be dealt with appropriately.
“When we were in the military, if you
heard about a coup and decided to keep quiet and refused to report to
the authorities, you were an accomplice. Some of these people might say
they simply sold the explosives and don’t know what they want to use
them to do. They are accomplices.
“There is need to find a more efficient
way to keep an eye on explosives in the country to ensure they don’t get
into the hands of saboteurs. Buyers too have to be monitored.”
The International Coordinator of
Security Watch Africa, Mr. Patrick Agbamu, described the alleged
diversion of explosives to militants as a grievous crime.
He said, “If those arrested are found to
be truly involved, then they can be considered as co-conspirators and
accessories to crime knowing the weight of the crime in question, which
bothers on national economic sabotage. The situation has led to loss of
revenue for the country. So, it is actually a grievous offence.
“If it is established that they diverted
the explosives, then the government can make a very strong statement
and prosecute them. If they gave out the materials knowing that the
recipients are militants and would use it to sabotage the system and the
economy, then they are not just a co-conspirators, they are
participants.”
A security consultant, Chigozie Ubani,
and a counter-terrorism expert, Mr. Dare Ogunlana, asked the Federal
Government to thoroughly profile miners and importers of mining
explosives in the country.
They said it was necessary to carry out a
comprehensive investigation into the issue to ascertain the extent of
diversion and supply and for how long it had been happening before
prosecuting the suspects.
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