By Awwal Umar Kontagora Dr. Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, speaking on behalf of former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badam...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
Dr. Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, speaking on behalf of former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has denied reports linking the former leader to a mining site where suspected illegal miners were recently arrested.
Umar, in a statement, said his attention had been drawn to a publication by Sahara Reporters alleging that the mining site belonged to General Babangida, describing the allegation as “false, baseless and completely without foundation.”
He said it was particularly concerning that the publication allegedly acknowledged that the claim could not be independently verified but proceeded to report it.
“An allegation that cannot be verified should not be published as though it were established fact,” Umar said.
He categorically denied any connection between Babangida and the mining operation in question, urging members of the public to disregard what he described as the unfounded allegation.
According to him, the report had created a false impression that the former military leader was connected to the mining activities.
Umar said Babangida's long-standing relationship with the people of Niger State was well known, adding that the former Head of State had lived peacefully with his people since his retirement from public service in 1993.
“We respect Sahara Reporters and its longstanding contribution to investigative journalism in Nigeria. However, that reputation carries with it a responsibility to uphold accuracy, fairness and proper verification before publishing allegations of this magnitude,” he said.
Umar, who described himself as Tambarin Kagara, concluded by appealing to the public to disregard the allegation, saying that at 85, what General Babangida needed was prayers rather than what he described as blackmail.
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