Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State, says the mining site in Plateau State where 37 miners died was shut down during his tenure as minister of solid minerals development.
Fayemi served as minister of solid minerals development from 2015 to 2018 under the administration of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Last Wednesday, at least 37 miners died after being exposed to carbon monoxide while working at an underground mining site in Zurak, Wase LGA of Plateau State.
More than 25 miners were hospitalised following the incident, after which the federal government ordered the closure of the mining site.
In a statement released via X on Sunday, Fayemi said he visited the Zurak mining site in 2017 alongside Babagana Monguno, then national security adviser (NSA).
The former minister said he ordered the immediate closure of the mining site and the arrest of illegal Chinese operators.
Fayemi said the purported owner of the mining site, identified as “Alhaji Dan China”, was declared wanted by the police and later arrested, but was released after he left office.
“As minister of mines, I visited the site with the NSA and the governor following numerous complaints from the community,” the statement reads.
“We embargoed mining activities at the site, arrested the illegal Chinese operators, and declared the purported owner of the illegal lead and zinc mines, Alhaji Dan China, wanted.
“He was eventually apprehended and brought to book by the National Security Adviser but was released after I left office.
“My preliminary discussions with officials of the ministry, as well as with the former deputy speaker and Wase representative in the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Idris Wase, indicate that this tragedy occurred at the same mine.
“It could have been avoided if security agencies had sustained the action taken by the ministry in 2017.
“My sincere condolences go to the families of the deceased. The government must now take firm and decisive action against operators who violate the law and environmental regulations, regardless of whose interests are affected. Mining activities must not be conducted to the detriment of host communities.”
