Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), has denied owning or having any connection with the gold mining sites from where 37 miners were arrested before they later died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The denial followed reports alleging that the mining sites in Niger State belonged to the former military ruler.
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by Dr David Adeniran of Babangida’s media office, the former military president said he neither owned, leased nor possessed any mineral rights, property or land connected to mining operations in Niger State or anywhere else in Nigeria.
“Ibrahim Babangida does not own, lease, or possess any mineral rights, properties, or lands related to mining operations anywhere in Niger State or across Nigeria,” the statement said.
According to the statement, Babangida had never acquired, sought to acquire or operated any land for mining purposes throughout his life, describing claims suggesting otherwise as “an absolute fabrication.”
The media office also dismissed an allegation attributed to a purported survivor that Babangida had instructed workers at the site to disregard local directives and continue mining operations.
It said there were no commands or authorisations from the former military president directing anyone to engage in mining activities.
“The malicious claim by a purported survivor stating that General Babangida instructed workers to ignore local directives and continue mining operations is completely unfounded,” the statement said.
It added that Babangida had lived peacefully and lawfully in Minna since his retirement from public service in 1993 and had no connection with informal or illegal mining activities in the state.
Babangida also expressed condolences to the families of the 37 miners who died while in NSCDC custody, describing the deaths as tragic and unfortunate.
The former military president said he fully supported a transparent and independent investigation into the incident, including forensic examinations initiated by the Niger State Government and the Federal Ministry of Interior.
He said the investigations should establish the circumstances and actual cause of the deaths.
Babangida further appealed to youths and residents of Niger State to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding while the relevant authorities complete their investigations.
