Deaths of Niger miners: Arewa think tank urges due process in NSCDC investigation

The Coordinator of the Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, has called for due process in the ongoing investigation into the deaths of 37 alleged illegal miners in Niger State, arguing that responsibility should be established based on evidence rather than speculation.

Yakubu’s stance came amid calls from some quarters for the removal of the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, following the deaths of detainees in the custody of the Corps.

The federal government and the NSCDC have launched investigations into the incident. Niger state commander Suberu Siyaka Aniviye and 23 other personnel were taken into custody in connection with the deaths, while authorities said anyone found guilty will face disciplinary and legal action.

Reacting to the controversy, Yakubu said the investigation should be able to establish the individual and institutional responsibilities involved before conclusions are reached on the Commandant General.

He said: “It is important to allow the investigation to run its full course. Where there is evidence of wrongdoing, appropriate people should be held accountable, but responsibility should not be assigned without establishing the facts.”

According to him, the NSCDC has an established chain of command and operational structure through which state commands function under higher formations.

Yakubu argued that the existence of an alleged operational failure at the state level should not automatically translate into the conclusion that the commanding general was personally responsible for the incident.

“It is necessary to understand the administrative structure of the Corps and determine who was responsible for the decisions and actions that led to this unfortunate incident,” he said.

He also referred to previous directives attributed to Audi regarding the treatment and detention of suspects, arguing that such directives should be part of the evidence considered by investigators.

“The Commandant General has issued circulars warning formations against detaining suspects beyond the period permitted by law. Such directives and the level of compliance therewith should be examined as part of the investigation,” Yakubu said.

Think Tank coordinator Arewa described the deaths as tragic and said the victims and their families deserve a transparent investigation that can establish what happened and who, if anyone, should be held responsible.

“We must first establish the facts. The families of those who died deserve justice, and justice requires a transparent process that identifies what happened, who was responsible and whether established procedures were violated,” he said.

Yakubu also argued that the controversy should not overshadow the broader fight against illegal mining, which he said requires effective safety and regulatory institutions.

He said the role of the NSCDC in combating illegal mining and other security-related activities should be assessed separately from investigations into the incident in Niger State.

“The fight against illegal mining is an important national responsibility. What is needed now is accountability where abuses are found, while legitimate law enforcement operations should continue in compliance with the law,” he said.

Yakubu also defended Audi’s record in previous security operations, citing what he described as the commanding general’s contribution to efforts against oil theft and illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta.

He argued that similar institutional support should be given to legal efforts to counter illegal mining, while insisting that enforcement agencies must operate within constitutional and legal safeguards.

The convener of the Arewa Think Tank therefore appealed to the Presidency, the Ministry of Interior and other stakeholders to allow the ongoing investigations to determine the facts regarding the deaths in Niger.

“Professor Audi should be judged on the evidence that emerges from investigations, not on accusations or political pressure. If an officer is found guilty, the law should take its course,” Yakubu said.

The controversy follows the death of 37 suspected illegal miners arrested during NSCDC operations in Niger State.

Authorities ordered investigations into the circumstances of the deaths, while the NSCDC arrested personnel linked to the incident and promised due process, transparency and accountability.

As investigations continue, Yakubu said the priority should be to establish the cause of the deaths, determine individual responsibility and ensure that lessons learned from the incident are used to strengthen detention procedures and enforcement operations across the country.