A former Governor of Ekiti State and ex-Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, has disclosed that the mining site in Plateau State where 37 miners recently lost their lives had been shut down during his tenure in office.
Fayemi, who served as minister from 2015 to 2018 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, said the affected site in Zurak community, Wase Local Government Area, was sealed in 2017 following reports of illegal operations.
No fewer than 37 miners reportedly died last Wednesday after inhaling carbon monoxide at an underground mining site in Zurak.
Prompt News had reported that morre than 25 others were hospitalised in the aftermath of the incident, prompting the Federal Government to order the closure of the facility.
In a statement shared via his verified X handle, Fayemi said he personally visited the mining location in 2017 alongside the then National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, following complaints from members of the host community.
According to him, the visit led to the immediate suspension of activities at the site and the arrest of some foreign nationals alleged to be operating there illegally.
He further stated that the individual identified as the owner of the illegal lead and zinc mining operation, popularly known as “Alhaji Dan China,” was declared wanted by security agencies and subsequently apprehended.
However, he claimed the suspect was later released after he left office.
“As minister, I visited the mines with the NSA and the state governor in response to repeated complaints from residents.
“We embargoed mining activities at the location, arrested the illegal Chinese operators and declared the purported owner wanted,” Fayemi said.
He added that preliminary consultations with officials of the ministry and a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Idris Wase, indicated that the recent fatalities occurred at the same site that had earlier been shut.
The former minister expressed regret over the incident, noting that the tragedy could have been averted if the enforcement measures initiated in 2017 had been sustained by relevant security agencies.
He extended condolences to the families of the deceased miners and called on the government to take decisive action against operators flouting mining and environmental regulations.
“Mining activities must not be conducted at the expense of host communities. Authorities must enforce the law firmly, irrespective of whose interests are involved,” he added.