By Erewunmi Peace

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has declared that no amount of blackmail or false accusations will derail the federal government’s ongoing crackdown on illegal mining operations across Nigeria.

Dr. Alake made this assertion while addressing recent media reports and social media campaigns attempting to discredit the Mining Marshals, a specialized security outfit launched to combat illegal mining activities and improve the security architecture in mineral-rich areas.

“Our hands are on the plough and there’s no looking back,” Alake stated. “I am not going to remove anybody from the mine marshals except I see concrete evidence of malfeasance or misdemeanor… I never buckle under blackmail.”

According to the minister, a particular case involving bribery allegations against the Mining Marshals’ commander was fabricated and unsupported by any factual evidence. Six months later, no proof has been presented, and a defamation lawsuit prompted one media outlet to retract and issue a public apology within 48 hours.

Dr. Alake emphasized that many of these smear campaigns are orchestrated by individuals and groups benefiting from illegal mining, who are resistant to the government’s reform agenda.

“We know where the blackmail is coming from—those who have been feeding fat on the system, those who don’t want change,” he said. “They will fail because we are resolute.”

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sanitizing the mining sector, ensuring due process, enforcing lawful operations, and driving investments into solid minerals as a means of economic diversification.

The Mining Marshals, launched earlier in 2025, have been deployed in several states and have already recorded significant arrests and confiscations of illegal mining equipment. The initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader plan to revitalize the sector.