Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has demanded a thorough and independent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
Atiku specifically called on President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, and Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to provide answers on the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The former vice president, in a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the incident could not be adequately addressed through the suspension of junior officers alone.
His demand came as the Federal Government announced the constitution of a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths. The committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and examine their arrest, detention and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Atiku alleged that the victims were arrested alive during operations against suspected illegal mining activities before they died in NSCDC custody.
He said the central question that must be answered was how 37 Nigerians who entered government custody alive ended up dead.
“Thirty-seven Nigerians, many of them teenagers, entered government custody alive. Thirty-seven of them died there. The Tinubu administration cannot explain away 37 bodies with press releases, suspensions and bureaucratic excuses,” Atiku said.
He insisted that the investigation must be independent of the agencies directly involved in the arrests and detention, arguing that an internal inquiry alone might not inspire sufficient public confidence.
Reports have emerged alleging overcrowding and poor ventilation at the detention facility, with survivors reportedly claiming that some detainees struggled to breathe. However, the precise cause of death has not been conclusively established and remains subject to investigation and medical examination.
Atiku questioned the role of Interior Minister Tunji-Ojo, noting that the NSCDC operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior.
“Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has direct and unavoidable questions to answer. He supervises the agency in whose custody these Nigerians allegedly died,” he said.
He also called on Alake to explain the enforcement operations linked to the mining sector, while urging President Tinubu to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the deaths are fully investigated.
The former vice president said the suspension of officers should not be the end of the matter, insisting that investigators must establish the complete chain of responsibility surrounding the arrests, transportation and detention of the victims.
He called for investigators to determine who authorised the arrests, who ordered the detention, the number of people held at the facility and the officials responsible for their welfare.
Atiku also demanded that investigators establish when the detainees first showed signs of distress, who was alerted, what medical intervention was provided and the precise cause of each death.
He urged authorities to preserve detention registers, operational records, communication logs, medical reports, photographs and available surveillance footage.
He further called for independent autopsies and urged that the families of the deceased be allowed to participate in the investigation.
Atiku said the findings should be made public and that anyone found culpable should face prosecution, regardless of rank or political affiliation.
He acknowledged the need for government to combat illegal mining, describing the activity as a threat to Nigeria’s natural resources, communities and national security.
However, he argued that enforcement must be conducted within the law and should not result in violations of the rights of suspects in custody.
“An allegation is not a death sentence. An arrest warrant is not a warrant to kill. Government custody must never become a gateway to the mortuary,” he said.
Atiku also linked illegal mining to unemployment, poverty and limited economic opportunities for young Nigerians, urging the government to address the socioeconomic conditions that push some people into the activity while enforcing the law against unlawful mining.
He warned against what he described as the use of junior officers as “scapegoats” while senior officials escape scrutiny.
“We demand the truth. We demand accountability. We demand justice for all 37 victims,” Atiku said.
