Niger Miners’ Deaths: Commissioner accuses NSCDC of operating outside its legal mandate
Niger State Government Raises Concerns Over NSCDC Conduct Following Deaths of Miners
NIGER STATE, Nigeria – The Niger State Government has expressed serious concerns regarding the conduct of personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) amid an ongoing investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in custody.
Maurice Bello Magaji, the Commissioner for Homeland Security, addressed the judicial commission examining the fatalities, revealing that testimonies from survivors indicated unprofessional behavior by NSCDC operatives. As the secretary of the state government’s committee tasked with investigating the incident, Magaji emphasized the need for the commission to scrutinize the alleged misconduct, asserting that NSCDC personnel should abide by the legal standards governing their operations.
“The NSCDC was established under an enabling Act, but they operate outside the provisions of that Act,” Magaji stated during his testimony before Justice Mohammed Mohammed’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry. He insisted that the corps must operate in compliance with its founding legislation.
During the proceedings, Magaji recounted his initial notification of the incident, which came from the then-suspended NSCDC state commandant, Siayaka Zubeiru Aniriviye, on September 17, 2026. Following the report, Magaji contacted Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who instructed that the deceased miners’ bodies be taken to a hospital. He sought logistical assistance from the permanent secretary in his ministry to facilitate the transfer.
The inquiry also heard from Deputy Commander John Abraham, who leads Civil Defence Operations for the NSCDC. Abraham detailed an operation that led to the arrest of 69 miners, ordered by the suspended commandant. He confirmed that the detained individuals were subsequently transferred to the Department of Intelligence and Investigation for further processing.
The case of Emmanuel Emeka, who reportedly died after spending six days in detention, was also addressed during the inquiry. Mokwa Area Commander, Assistant Commander Adebayo Tajuddeen, and Assistant Superintendent Mamman Ibrahim testified about the circumstances surrounding Emeka’s arrest and subsequent detention. Their statements raised questions regarding the legality of his arrest, as well as allegations of financial transactions connected to his detention and a court warrant.
Further complicating the situation, the officers discussed the status of N1.4 million claimed to have been recovered in a dispute linked to N12 million. Additionally, Emeka’s employer, Wilfred Ugwu, provided testimony regarding the events that led him to report Emeka to the NSCDC, accusing him of diverting funds belonging to his business.
The commission is continuing its investigation into the activities of NSCDC personnel, the arrest and detention practices, and the series of events that resulted in the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners.
