The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, Friday, declared government readiness to punish those involved in illegal extraction of alleged uranium in Gwande Local Government Area of Benue State after thorough investigation Murray st have been carried out.
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Segun Tomori, Alake observed what he described as “discrepancies in presentations by operators and stakeholders.”
The statement revealed that, the Minister made the pledge after listening to submissions from representatives of the affected mining operators and relevant mines inspectorate officials from the state.
Weeks ago, the media was awash with a trending video of 15 trucks laden with minerals alleged to be uranium and extracted from Kwande Local Government, Benue State. Sequel to the development, Alake ordered discreet investigations by the Mines Inspectorate, which revealed that the video was the result of inter-firm rivalry over control of mining sites. Again, the minister summoned the mining stakeholders with a view to getting a clear picture of what transpired.
The statement also showed that there were irregularities in the account made available by representatives of the communities, the operators and mines Inspectorate officials after the Minister had listened to those involved, prompting the minister to assure on the need for thorough investigations and punish anyone found to have sabotaged the process.
The minister concluded by stating that, “I have listened to all submissions and noted discrepancies in presentations by operators and stakeholders.
“We will thoroughly investigate all issues related to the incident and any operator found culpable will have their licenses revoked, if some of our officials also connived to perpetrate sharp practices, they will also be made to face the full weight of the law.”
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