The suspended Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, Siaka Zubeiru Anirive, has admitted that the deaths of suspected unlawful miners within the corps’ custody may have been averted, tendering an apology to their bereaved households and the Niger State Government.
This got here because it was revealed that his authorized officer had suggested him to launch minors arrested through the operation.
Anirive, who described the incident as a “costly mistake,” apologised whereas testifying earlier than the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Commission of Inquiry in Minna, which was investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the detainees.
“A mistake has been made, but a very costly one. My apology to the parents of the deceased and to the people and government of Niger State,” he instructed the fee.
The former commandant additionally expressed remorse that the deaths occurred throughout his tenure, acknowledging that the incident may have been prevented.
The apology, nonetheless, got here amid troubling testimony concerning the dealing with of the detainees, together with allegations that the recommendation to launch minors on bail was ignored and proof from a medical employee who mentioned one suspect was coughing severely across the time the our bodies have been being faraway from the detention cell.
Testifying earlier than the fee, Anirive mentioned he assumed responsibility as Niger State NSCDC Commandant on August 25, 2025, and remained in workplace till September 18, 2026, explaining that the operation at a mining web site alongside the M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna adopted written and oral complaints from residents who alleged that the miners’ actions have been disturbing their neighborhood.
He mentioned he visited the location on September 15, 2026, after which directed the command’s head of operations, Assistant Commandant of Corps Joha Achagwa, to behave on the complaints.
He mentioned the Mining Marshal unit was deployed, resulting in the arrest of suspected unlawful miners throughout an operation carried out on the night of September 16.
However, the next day, detainees in NSCDC custody died.
Anirive instructed the fee that he acquired a phone name informing him that some suspects had died whereas in detention, including that he instantly rushed to the command headquarters, the place he discovered a number of our bodies mendacity on the ground of the cell.
He mentioned he contacted Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago and was directed to rearrange for the our bodies to be taken to the hospital, disclosing that he additionally knowledgeable the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services concerning the incident.
The former commandant additional instructed the fee that preparations have been underway to arraign the suspects in court docket on September 17 earlier than their deaths.
The testimony of the suspended head of the command’s Legal Unit, Assistant Commandant of Corps Stephen Tsado, raised additional questions on how the detainees have been dealt with.
Tsado mentioned his obligations included getting ready case recordsdata, forwarding instances for prosecution and advising the commandant on authorized issues. He instructed the fee that after noticing minors among the many arrested suspects, he suggested Anirive to launch them to their dad and mom on bail to guard their rights.
The authorized officer mentioned he personally urged the commandant to behave on that recommendation however didn’t know why he didn’t comply with it. “I advised him to grant them bail to their parents,” he mentioned, including that the minors’ rights shouldn’t be violated.
The fee additionally heard testimony from Nurse Maryam Etang of the NSCDC medical unit, who mentioned she visited the detention cell as a part of her routine duties on September 16 and 17. She disclosed that one of many suspects was coughing severely on September 17, whereas the our bodies have been being introduced out of the cell.
She additionally instructed the fee that she was shocked to seek out the physique of Emeka Emmanuel amongst these eliminated, saying he was not among the many miners arrested through the operation.
The circumstances surrounding Emmanuel’s presence among the many our bodies raised additional questions concerning the identities of those that died and the occasions resulting in their detention.
The inquiry can be anticipated to ascertain the circumstances of the deaths, study the remedy of detainees and decide whether or not there have been lapses within the dealing with of these held by the NSCDC.
It can be recalled that in earlier proceedings, a mortician at Minna General Hospital had instructed the fee that 33 our bodies have been delivered to the hospital’s mortuary, in opposition to the 37 deaths extensively reported by the state authorities and different authorities.
