The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has attributed the Sunday’s explosion at a mining site in Niger State to illegal stockpiling of explosives by a resident, Yushua Maikampala.
Maikampala is believed to have been involved in purchasing and storing explosives and their accessories in a house in Sabo Pegi, Mashegun Local Government Area, according to a statement by the minister’s spokesperson, Segun Tomori.
The statement noted that an eyewitness revealed that the explosion was triggered by an electrical spark around 7:00 AM., destroying the building where the explosives were stored and damaging approximately 20 other houses.
The statement quoted the Minister as expressing his deepest condolences to the victims, describing the incident as avoidable. At least two fatalities have been confirmed so far.
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Alake is said to have directed relevant ministry officials, including the Mines Inspectorate Department, to carry out forensic analysis of soil samples collected from the blast site to determine the source of the explosives, which would guide the next course of action.
According to the minister, “Security agencies have been put on the trail of the suspected culprit. He will be apprehended to face justice.”
He said the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that mining operators adhere to strict environmental and safety standards to avert a recurrence of the unfortunate incident.