- Minister Orders Probe, Suspends Niger State NSCDC Commandant
By Our Reporter, With Agency Reports
PROTESTS erupted in Minna, Niger State, on Thursday night following the deaths of 33 suspected illegal miners who were reportedly being held in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The detainees were arrested during enforcement operations at suspected illegal mining sites in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas, west of Minna, between September 15 and 16.
Their bodies were later taken to the General Hospital in Minna, where family members gathered seeking answers over the deaths.
Residents said youths took to the streets on Thursday night, chanting “Justice must be done.” Some vehicles were reportedly damaged during the protests.
The city was calm by Friday morning, although security personnel had been deployed across parts of Minna.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear. The NSCDC initially suggested that a suspected disease outbreak might have been responsible, but subsequently said the cause of death had not been established and would be determined through medical examinations.
In response, Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered a full-scale and transparent investigation into the incident.
He directed NSCDC Commandant General Ahmed Audi to activate an unhindered inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
In compliance with the directive, Audi ordered the Niger State commandant and the heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence and Investigation to report to the NSCDC national headquarters in Abuja to appear before the panel of inquiry.
A new commandant was also directed to take over in Niger State pending the outcome of the investigation.
Tunji-Ojo had earlier ordered the immediate suspension of Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye.
The Interior Ministry said the suspension would remain in place while the investigation was conducted.
Audi said any personnel found culpable would face appropriate administrative, disciplinary or criminal sanctions under existing laws and regulations.
He also reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to protecting the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of people in its custody.
The deaths come amid Nigeria’s longstanding efforts to curb illegal mining, which authorities say operates at thousands of informal sites nationwide and contributes to environmental damage and losses in government revenue.
The investigation is expected to establish how the 33 detainees died and whether any officials or other factors were responsible.
