Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago, has advised artisanal miners to surrender their explosives and other dangerous tools they use to the security committee for safe storage instead of keeping them in their houses.
 
The governor recently constituted a committee comprising security agencies, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), traditional institutions and other relevant stakeholders. 
 
The Attah of Agoi Ibami community in Yakurr Local Council of Cross River State, Michael Onun, has expressed fears over his safety and that of his subjects due to an innumerable number of strange men, most of them illegal miners, in his domain.

Bago appealed when he visited the scene of an explosion to commiserate with the victims and the members of the community in Sabon Pegi, Mashegu Local Council of Niger.

While sympathising with the victims of the incident, the governor called on the people to embrace the responsible mining policy of the state government for their safety.
 
He acknowledged that the area was characterised by artisanal mining, due to large deposits of gold and lithium, resulting in insecurity in the area, as the miners have explosives and guns.
 
Announcing a cash donation of N174 million to the victims of the dynamite explosion, the governor explained that N5 million each should be given to those whose houses were destroyed, N2 million to those partially damaged, N1 million to the injured, N2 million to the families of the deceased and N1 million each to those whose vehicles were affected. He said the cash donation was to provide succour to the victims, adding that a committee would be set up for the judicious sharing of the money.
 
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said President Bola Tinubu was deeply saddened by the incident, describing it as a man-made tragedy and could not be allowed to continue.
 
THE monarch, in a chat with newsmen, yesterday, said the sheer presence of the strange faces was sending chills down his spine and that of his subjects. He alleged that following the discovery of gold and other precious stones in his community, there had been an influx of assorted people, including minors, to access the precious stones, adding that he had only signed consent letters to a handful of recognised and licensed miners who never utilised the consent.
 
“But thousands of persons who I don’t know have been flocking into Agoi Ekpo in the past months without authorisation. They are in the bushes mining,” he lamented.
 
The traditional ruler complained that he had severally drawn the attention of federal and state offices of mines, as well as Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and other security agencies; yet, there had not been any arrests.