Former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, has said the deaths of about 40 people at the Kampani Zurak mining site in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State were entirely preventable, blaming the tragedy on a failure to sustain earlier enforcement actions against illegal mining.
In a statement issued on his Facebook page on Sunday, the ex-minister expressed concern over the death of 40 miners in Kampani Zurak, adding that the tragedy is preventable.
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“I feel pained to learn of the deaths of about 40 people, with several others injured and still missing, at the Kampani Zurak mines in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State,” Fayemi said. “What makes this even more painful is that it was entirely preventable.”
Fayemi recalled that while serving as minister, he visited the mining area alongside the National Security Adviser and the Plateau State Governor following repeated complaints from the host community.
“As Minister of Mines, I visited the mines with the NSA and the Governor after numerous complaints from the community,” he said. “We embargoed mining at the sites, arrested the illegal Chinese operators, and declared the purported owner of the illegal lead and zinc mines, Alhaji Dan China, wanted.”
According to him, the suspect was later apprehended by security authorities but released after his exit from office. Fayemi said preliminary discussions with officials of the Ministry of Mines and with the former Deputy Speaker and Wase representative in the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, indicated that the latest incident occurred at the same mine earlier shut down by the government.
“My preliminary discussions indicate that this tragedy occurred at the same mine,” he said. “It could have been avoided if the security agencies had sustained the action taken by the Ministry in 2017.”
The former minister expressed condolences to the families of the victims and urged the government to take decisive action against illegal mining operators.
“My sincere condolences go to the families of the deceased,” Fayemi said. “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.”
