A survivor of the deaths of suspected miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, Abdulsalam Yakubu, has made fresh allegations against the corps. He accused operatives of taking two bottles of mined gold and N1.35 million from him during his arrest. Yakubu made these claims while testifying before the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Judicial Commission of Inquiry in Minna.
Yakubu's testimony has added another dimension to the investigation into the deaths, which have raised serious concerns about the treatment of detainees and the circumstances surrounding their deaths in NSCDC custody. The commission is examining accounts from survivors and other relevant parties to establish what happened before, during and after the arrests. Yakubu's allegations will require examination alongside other evidence.
Yakubu explained that he was among the residents who fled Allawa community in Shiroro Local Government Area after repeated attacks by armed bandits forced them to abandon their homes. The displacement left him and his family struggling to survive, with mining becoming one of the few available ways to generate income. The money earned from the activity helped him provide for his elderly parents, who are also living in an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp.
Yakubu disputed the officially reported death toll, claiming that 48 people died in custody rather than the 37 initially reported. He said he was surprised when reports emerged that 37 people had died, insisting that the number of fatalities he was aware of was higher. The discrepancy between his account and the reported figure raises questions that the commission may need to address through survivor testimonies, detention records and other available evidence.
The incident occurred in September 2026, when suspected illegal miners arrested during an enforcement operation were held at the NSCDC Niger State Command facility in Minna. The NCDC Authorities initially said that 37 detainees had died while in custody, prompting public concern and calls for a transparent investigation. The Federal Government subsequently established an independent investigative committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced the suspension of the Niger State commandant and other officers connected to the operation pending the outcome of the investigation. The move followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive inquiry into the incident. The deaths also prompted a separate investigation by the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Commission of Inquiry in Niger State, where survivors and officials have been called upon to provide accounts of the events.
More recent findings by the Federal Government’s investigative committee have pointed to severe overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, heat stress and dehydration as factors responsible for the deaths. The committee’s findings, reported on October 27, also raised questions about detention conditions and the response to distress among those held in the facility. Yakubu has appealed for the return of his property, which he said was important to his efforts to earn a living.
Key points
- Yakubu alleges NSCDC operatives took gold and money from him during his arrest.
- Yakubu disputes the official death toll, claiming 48 people died in custody.
- The Federal Government's investigative committee found severe overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, heat stress and dehydration as factors responsible for the deaths.
