Tinubu’s Minister, Alake, Beefs Up Security After Death Threats

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has had to triple the number of his personal security after receiving several death threats from individuals and companies whose mining licences were revoked for failing to comply with government regulations.

He said the threats, which included text messages sent directly to his phone, became so frequent and serious that he was compelled to increase the number of armed security personnel assigned to him as a precautionary measure against possible attacks from those angered by the ministry’s renewed enforcement of mining laws.

Alake disclosed this on Friday at a pre-event press briefing ahead of the 10th edition of the Nigeria Mining Week, scheduled to hold from October 13 to 15, 2025, in Abuja.

The event, themed “Nigeria Mining: From Progress to Global Relevance,” will bring together policymakers, investors and stakeholders to assess the country’s progress in the sector.

The minister in his address, said his insistence on enforcing long-neglected mining laws and revoking dormant licences had provoked pushback from powerful interests who had enjoyed years of impunity.

“In fact, I have had to triple my personal security because I’ve received several threats from those whose licences were revoked for one form of infraction or the other,” Alake said.

“One even sent me a text message threatening me directly.”

According to him, some of those affected have resorted to intimidation and blackmail, including sponsored media attacks and spurious allegations, in an attempt to halt the ongoing reforms.

“They have employed all sorts of tactics to make us reverse these decisions,” he added. “But I told them, you can go and study my antecedents. We didn’t dance into this office; we fought battles to get here. We are battle-hardened and we will not retreat.”




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