Babangida denies owning the Minna mining site where 37 suspected illegal miners died and calls for an investigation.
Babangida has denied ownership of the mining site in Minna where some of the suspected illegal miners were arrested before their death.
Babangida said in a statement made available to journalists in Minna on Saturday that the publication claiming he owns the site “is totally false and without foundation”.
In the statement, signed on his behalf by Tambari Kagara, Alhaji Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, the former military president categorically debunked the report and demanded that the false impression it created be corrected.
The statement added: “It’s on record that General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the Madakin Minna, has lived closely and peacefully with his people since retirement in 1993”, adding that: “At 85, what he requires is prayers, not blackmail.”
Babangida had earlier, in a separate statement, condemned the death of the miners, describing the incident as not only “tragic” but “deeply disturbing.”
On his part, former Head of State, General Abubakar, called for an in-depth investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ensure that measures are taken to prevent a recurrence. Abdulsalami, in a separate statement, described the deaths of the 37 young people as a painful loss to their families, communities, Niger State and Nigeria while extending his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for strength for those affected by the tragedy.
The former Head of State also urged relevant government agencies and other stakeholders to strengthen safety measures at mining sites, particularly to protect young people whose livelihoods depend on mining and other economic activities appealing for calm among the affected communities and called on the authorities to provide necessary support to the victims’ families
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