Outrage as 37 suspected illegal miners die in NSCDC custody, Tinubu orders probe

By Tolu Temidire

Thirty-seven suspected illegal miners have died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna, Niger State, prompting President Bola Tinubu to order a full investigation into the incident.

The victims were among suspects arrested during “burst operations” conducted by the Niger State NSCDC Command on September 15 and 16 at M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto villages, areas associated with small-scale gold mining.

Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, said the detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17 following a suspected disease outbreak.

He said the corpses had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.

The NSCDC subsequently constituted a high-powered investigative team, led by its Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation, to probe the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

National Public Relations Officer of the corps, Babawale Afolabi, said the investigation would examine the condition of the suspects when arrested, their period in custody, detention conditions, medical attention provided and other circumstances surrounding the deaths.

He stressed that reports attributing the deaths to any specific disease remained subject to medical and laboratory confirmation.

President Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, described the incident as a grave matter and directed relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation.

The President said every Nigerian had a right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody, regardless of the allegations against them.

He warned that where the investigation established that any official contributed to the deaths through abuse, negligence or dereliction of duty, such officers should be prosecuted.

“The fact that these individuals were suspected of illegal mining does not in any way remove their right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody,” Tinubu said.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said he had deployed a high-powered team to Niger State to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Meanwhile, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, declared three days of mourning for the victims and cancelled the APC political rally scheduled for Saturday, September 19, in Minna.

The development also triggered protests in parts of the state, with Global Rights condemning reports of the alleged use of live ammunition by security forces during demonstrations.

The organisation called for an investigation into the alleged use of force and urged security agencies to respect the rights to life and peaceful assembly.

Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, described the deaths as tragic and demanded an independent investigation, particularly into reports that some of the deceased could have been minors.

Similarly, the Action Democratic Party, ADP, through its National Chairman, Yabagi Sani, demanded a transparent investigation, forensic examination, accountability for any officials found culpable and compensation for the families of the deceased.

Senator Sani Musa, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, also called for an independent investigation into the conditions under which the detainees were held, medical attention provided and the actual cause of death.

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, demanded independent autopsies, disclosure of the identities and detention records of the victims, compensation for their families and prosecution of officials found responsible.

The party said the allegations against the deceased could not extinguish their constitutional rights, insisting that “poverty is not a capital offence” and “unemployment is not a death sentence.”

The NSCDC has appealed for calm, while the Federal Government and other authorities await the outcome of the investigations and medical examinations to determine what caused the deaths.