Former Governor of Ekiti State and former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, has expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of about 40 persons at the Kampani Zurak mining site in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, describing the incident as painful and preventable.
Fayemi made his position known via a post on his official Facebook page, where he lamented that several others were injured and some still missing following the tragic incident.
The former minister recalled that during his tenure, he visited the mining site alongside the National Security Adviser and the Plateau State Governor after receiving numerous complaints from the host community over illegal mining operations.
According to him, the Federal Government subsequently placed an embargo on mining activities at the affected sites and ordered their closure. He stated that illegal foreign operators, including some Chinese nationals, were arrested during the enforcement operation. He also disclosed that the alleged owner of the illegal lead and zinc mining site, identified as Alhaji Dan China, was declared wanted by security agencies.
Fayemi noted that the suspect was eventually apprehended and prosecuted through the intervention of the Office of the National Security Adviser but was later released after he left office.
He further revealed that preliminary discussions with officials of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, as well as with the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and member representing Wase Federal Constituency, Idris Wase, indicated that the recent tragedy occurred at the same mining site previously shut down by the Federal Government.
Fayemi maintained that the incident could have been avoided if security agencies had sustained the enforcement actions initiated in 2017.
“The incident could have been avoided if the security agencies had sustained the action taken by the Ministry in 2017,” he stated.
He extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and sympathised with those injured and still unaccounted for. He urged government authorities to take firm and decisive action against illegal mining operators and violators of environmental and safety regulations.
Fayemi stressed that mining activities must not be conducted to the detriment of host communities, calling for stronger regulatory oversight, sustained enforcement, and accountability to prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, rescue efforts are ongoing at the site as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the disaster.
