Former military president General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd.) has denied owning or operating any mining site in Niger State, following reports linking him to a gold mine where 37 miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). In a statement issued Saturday by his media aide, Dr. David Adeniran, Babangida categorically stated he does not own, lease or possess mineral rights or land related to mining anywhere in Niger State or Nigeria. He described claims of ownership as an "absolute fabrication" and said he has never acquired, sought to acquire, or operated any mining property in his life.
The denial responds to allegations, including from a purported survivor, that Babangida instructed workers to disregard local directives and continue mining activities. His office dismissed this as "completely unfounded," noting he has lived peacefully in Minna since retiring in 1993 and has no connection to informal or illegal mining operations. Babangida expressed condemnation of the custodial deaths and extended condolences to the families affected and the people of Niger State. He affirmed full cooperation with and support for the independent inquiry panel and forensic investigations launched by the Niger State government and the Federal Ministry of Interior to determine the cause of the incident. He urged residents and youth in the state to remain calm and law-abiding as the investigation proceeds.
Babangida denies all ties to the mine even as a survivor alleges he gave orders to bypass local rules. If the claim is true, it raises questions about who authorized the operation; if false, it underscores the need to verify sources amid serious allegations. His call for calm and support for the probe stands, but the origin of the accusation remains unexplained.
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