The suspended Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Aniviye, has described the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody as a “costly mistake,” apologising to their families.
Aniviye spoke while testifying before a commission of inquiry investigating the deaths in Minna, the state capital.
“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 said.
The incident occurred in September after NSCDC officers arrested suspected illegal miners during operations around the M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate and Lukoto village.
Aniviye said the operation followed complaints from residents about mining activities in their communities.
He said he visited the site on Sept. 15 before mining marshals made arrests the following evening.
He told the commission that he learnt of the deaths through a phone call on Sept. 17.
When he returned to the command’s office, he said, he found bodies on the detention cell floor.
Stephen Tsado, the suspended head of the NSCDC legal unit, told the commission he had advised Aniviye to release underage suspects to their parents on bail.
“I advised him to grant them bail to their parents,” Tsado said.
A nurse attached to the command’s medical unit, Maryam Etang, also told the commission that she was shocked to find the body of Emeka Emmanuel among those removed from the cell.
She said Emmanuel was not among the miners arrested during the operation.
The Federal Government suspended Aniviye and 19 other NSCDC officers following the deaths and ordered an investigation.
President Bola Tinubu also called for a full investigation, while Vice President Kashim Shettima announced a ₦250 million donation to the victims’ families during a visit to Minna on Oct. 5.
The commission is expected to investigate the circumstances of the deaths and determine whether officials failed in their duties.
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