The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has alleged the involvement of some big men in banditry rocking the country.
Alake made this accusation during his visit to the site of explosion in Ibadan that left five dead, 77 injured and damaged 58 houses.
“One of the things that happen now even in the forest that is unknown to many people is that the bandits who the highly placed Nigerians are sponsoring have access to funding and heavy arsenal.
“They even laid mines on the ground against our ground forces that were moving in the forest to dislodge them. That is why we require the military’s presence, involvement and engagement,” the minister said.
He also stated that he received threat for saying some Nigerian elite are behind the banditry associated with illegal miners in this country.
According to him, “If you follow my budget defence at the House of Representatives or Senate, I did say categorically to the whole world that powerful Nigerians are behind the banditry associated with illegal miners in this country.
“I said it openly, of course, I received threats, but we are undaunted because these things have to be said, and in any case, I wasn’t saying anything new, most people knew it.”
