By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Peter Obi Media Office (POMR) has accused the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, of attempting to divert attention from the deaths of 37 Nigerians in custody by engaging in political attacks against former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi.

In a statement signed by Idris Zekeri Jnr., POMR Spokesman, and dated September 21, 2026, the media office said Alake’s criticism of Obi over his record in Anambra State was misplaced, arguing that the minister should instead account for events surrounding the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State.

The statement followed a fresh intervention by Alake, who, speaking as a spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, challenged Obi over his record as governor of Anambra. Reports on the campaign council’s statement said Alake questioned Obi’s claims about fiscal prudence and called on him to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race over alleged liabilities linked to his tenure.

POMR said the minister was attempting to create a distraction while Nigerians were seeking answers over the deaths of the detainees.

“For us in Peter Obi Media, there is a tragic irony in watching high-ranking public officials prioritise political posturing over executive accountability,” the statement said.

The media office argued that the deaths should demand the minister’s full attention, particularly because the deceased were arrested during operations targeting suspected illegal mining.

It asked questions about who authorised the operation, what safeguards were in place and who would be held accountable if failures contributed to the deaths.

“Instead of fixing the catastrophic failures in Nigeria's solid minerals sector, providing answers to these questions: Who authorised the operation? What safeguards were in place? Who failed? And who will be held accountable?” POMR stated.

The Federal Government has said it is investigating the incident. Alake announced on September 18 that he had deployed a “high-powered” team to Niger State to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish the facts.

The deaths occurred after suspected illegal miners were arrested during enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16. The NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, while the circumstances and cause of death remained under investigation.

POMR nevertheless questioned the minister’s decision to engage in political exchanges with Obi amid the controversy.

“A minister overseeing a sector at the centre of such a tragic episode is busy trying to create a distraction,” the statement said, adding that Alake appeared more interested in political arguments over Obi’s record in Anambra.

The media office also said the deaths should not be treated merely as statistics, arguing that the victims were young Nigerians who lost their lives in circumstances that required answers from those responsible for the mining sector.

“The numbers are not mere statistics—they represent real human lives lost in illegal, unsafe, and poorly regulated mining environments,” POMR stated.

It called on the Federal Government to focus on curbing illegal and unregulated mining operations and improving safety standards in the sector.

“Ending unchecked illegal operations and curbing informal and unregulated extraction that endangers vulnerable youth seeking a livelihood is the Minister's responsibility,” the statement said.

POMR further argued that Nigerian youths deserved a mining sector based on safety, regulation and sustainable development, rather than what it described as political distractions.

The media office concluded by accusing the APC administration of failing Nigerians across sectors, while urging the government to account for the circumstances surrounding the Niger State deaths.