***Says Illegal Mining, Kidnapping Most Lucrative Business in the North

Demands Government to Release Report on Soldiers, Policemen Killed at Niger Mining Site

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State and former Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, has backed former Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, over his recent comment alleging that retired and serving military generals are behind illegal mining in Nigeria, particularly in the North.
In a statement issued in Minna on Thursday titled “I am solidly behind Comrade Adams Oshiomole on illegal mining” and made available to journalists, Vatsa described Oshiomole’s remarks as “the honest and religious truth.”
He alleged that illegal mining activities are not only supported by retired military generals but also involve political elites and influential business figures.
Vatsa stated that illegal mining, which contributes nothing to Nigeria’s economy, is a major factor fueling insecurity in the North.
He accused political and traditional leaders, as well as the business class, of being fully aware of the situation but refusing to act.
“Nobody with a conscience and fear of God will fault Oshiomole over his comment on illegal mining. He just hit the nail on the head. This is something everyone knows but refuses to talk about,” Vatsa said.
The former APC Publicity Secretary criticized the government’s double standards in dealing with illegal resource exploitation. He lamented that while illegal mining thrives in the North, generating millions of dollars daily for private individuals without government interference, authorities continue to militarize the Niger Delta over oil bunkering.
“Gold is more expensive than crude oil in the international market today, yet the government has turned a blind eye to illegal gold mining, allowing individuals and their foreign collaborators to exploit the country’s resources unchecked,” he argued.
Vatsa asserted that the ongoing security crisis in the North is closely tied to illegal mining. According to him, criminal groups operate under the guise of banditry to mine gold and other minerals across the region.
“What is happening in the North is an economic war. People are using banditry as a cover to carry out illegal mining, and everyone knows this, but there is no political will to confront the situation,” he added.
The APC chieftain recalled the gruesome murder of 34 soldiers and eight mobile policemen at Ajata Aboki, Erena Ward, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, in June 2022. The security personnel were killed while providing security at a mining site.
Vatsa questioned why the government and military authorities remained silent on the incident.
“Three years after this tragic event, no one has told Nigerians the truth about the killings. Who owns that mining site? Who ordered the deployment of soldiers and policemen there? Why has the government refused to release the findings of the investigation committee set up by the then-governor, Sani Bello?” he asked.
He described the silence surrounding the incident as a “national tragedy” and challenged the government to make the committee’s report public before dismissing Oshiomole’s claims.
“Our leaders know those behind illegal mining, but they are untouchable. If you go after them as a politician, they can make you lose an election. That is the unfortunate reality of our country today,” he lamented.
Vatsa warned that insecurity in the North would persist unless the government takes decisive action against illegal mining. He also alleged that bandits work in collaboration with illegal miners but choose to attack innocent farmers instead of disrupting mining operations.
“Until the government musters the courage to confront this issue, the security crisis will remain. Bandits avoid targeting illegal miners because they operate in synergy,” he stated.
He urged the government to prioritize national interest over personal and political gains, emphasizing that transparency and accountability in the mining sector are crucial to restoring peace in the region.

The Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness Alhaji Dr. Yahaya Abubakar, has thrown his weight behind transformative projects spearheaded by Silicon Valley Nigeria Economic Development (SV-NED INC USA/SV-NED Energy Ltd) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Yhis is in a landmark collaboration to boost economic growth and youth empowerment.
The initiative, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focuses on agriculture, affordable housing, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) energy transformation, and mining.
At the heart of this agenda is the vision to provide sustainable opportunities for Nigerian youth, particularly NYSC corps members, to achieve self-reliance and contribute to national development.

During a high-profile meeting at the Etsu Nupe’s palace in Bida, HRH Queen Mother Amb. Amina Temitope Ajayi-Labinjo, popularly known as Mama Diaspora, represented by Executive Director Captain Dada Olaniyi Labinjo (Rtd), outlined plans to utilize massive land allocations in Kakakpangi and Wuya for these projects.

“Our focus is affordable housing, modern agriculture, and CNG gas centers to cut transportation costs and create commercial opportunities. We are committed to empowering Nigerian youth, taking them off the streets, and providing them with livelihoods,” Ajayi-Labinjo said.

The Etsu Nupe, who is also Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, lauded the initiative, describing it as a game-changer for Niger State’s socio-economic and agricultural sectors.
He pledged full support for the partnership and praised the teams for choosing Niger State as the hub for the projects.
NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General YD Ahmed, represented by Mr. Aremu Kehinde, NYSC Director of Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Development (SAED), emphasized the initiative’s potential to transform youth engagement across the state.

“These projects are designed to introduce modern agriculture and other life-changing opportunities to our youth, both corps members and residents of Bida. This is a testament to the Royal Majesty’s commitment to youth empowerment and economic progress,” Kehinde said.

The groundbreaking projects are set to uplift thousands of Nigerians, create jobs, and drive Niger State into an era of sustainable development, fulfilling the promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

***Silent on Next Political Move

Former House of Representatives member, Alhaji Sani Kutigi, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger State, citing disillusionment with the party’s current state.

This development is coming barely a week after the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate, Alhaji Isah Liman Kantigi, endorsed Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 elections and declared he would not contest against him.

Sani Kutigi, who represented Lavun/Mokwa/Edati Federal Constituency between 2011 and 2015, addressed his resignation letter to the PDP Ward Chairman in Kutigi, Lavun Local Government Area, on Sunday, February 26, 2025.

In the letter, the son of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Legbo Kutigi, described the PDP as a party that had lost its way. “After deep retrospection, I write to inform you of my resignation from PDP, an erstwhile great political sanctuary of values, unity, and opportunities with many years of unrivaled political leadership and services in Nigeria,” he wrote.

He lamented the party’s decline, stating, “Unfortunately, this hitherto great party has been reduced to a political circus of duplicity, division, and despondency that has negatively affected the trust of many of its members and the confidence of most electorate in the country.”

Kutigi revealed that his decision followed consultations with trusted political associates and well-wishers. “In view of the above, and in response to the collective resolve of my teeming political associates, I am compelled to take the painful decision of distancing myself from false political virtue, hence in search of political purpose and a path with clear and mutual objectives,” he added.

Reflecting on his years in the PDP since 2015, he described his experience as one of “meandering through political distrust” and expressed gratitude for the opportunities and challenges he encountered in the party.

However, Kutigi’s resignation letter did not disclose his next political move, leaving his supporters and observers guessing about his future plans.

When contacted, the Niger State PDP Chairman, Mr. Tanko Beji, said he had not yet received any formal resignation letter from Kutigi.
He added that party membership is voluntary, and individuals are free to join or leave at their discretion. “We wish him well in his future endeavors,” Beji concluded.