North-Central Youth Council Condemns Death of 37 Miners in NSCDC Custody, Demands Independent Autopsy and Prosecution

Timescope News 

The North-Central Indigenous Youth Council (NCIYC) has condemned the death of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, describing the incident as barbaric, inhuman, and unacceptable.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Board of Trustees, Comrade J.M. Abbah, Ph.D., FCNA, the Council said it received the news with shock and outrage.

The Council noted that the 37 persons were arrested on September 15 and 16 during operations at M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto Village, and were found dead in the early hours of September 17 inside an NSCDC detention cell.

According to the Council, the incident points to gross negligence, unprofessionalism, overcrowding, and disregard for human rights and custodial standards. It described the initial claim of a “suspected disease outbreak” as insensitive and an attempt to cover up institutional failure.

The NCIYC demanded a transparent, independent forensic autopsy and the prosecution of all officers found culpable.

The Council, however, commended Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, for his proactive response to the tragedy.

It listed the Governor’s actions to include confirming the incident, setting up an independent State Government Committee of Inquiry, ordering full forensic examinations and autopsies to establish the true cause of death, declaring a three-day mourning period, cancelling the APC political rally earlier scheduled for Saturday, September 19, in Minna, and liaising with federal security agencies including the NSCDC, the Inspector General of Police, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to ensure parallel investigations.

The Council also commended the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for ordering the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and his team, and for assuring Nigerians of a transparent investigation.

The Council further advised the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, to treat illegal mining as a national security and economic emergency.

It called for the deployment of a Joint Mining Protection Task Force to mining sites, the formalization of artisanal miners into licensed cooperatives, the establishment of a digital mining surveillance system and biometric database, mandatory safety audits of detention facilities used for mining-related arrests, and stiffer penalties for sponsors and buyers of illegal mining.

The Council called for calm among youths in Minna and the North-Central zone, insisting that the final autopsy report must be made public and justice served.

“May the souls of the departed rest in peace,” the statement added.