The names of the 37 alleged illegal miners who died while being held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State have been made public.
Due to the killings, the NSCDC has detained and paraded 24 employees, including Commandant Subaru Siyaka Aniviye of Niger State.
As officials try to determine the facts surrounding the deaths, it is anticipated that the personnel will be investigated.
Here are the names of the victims:
1. Ibrahim Sani
2. Fahad Sa’adu
3. Abdulsalam Ismail
4. Usman Aliyu
5. Abubakar Alhaji
6. Sani Nasir
7. Sanusi Khalid
8. Ahmad Aliyu
9. Safiyanu Abdullahi
10. Suleiman Dantala
11. Idris Haruna
12. Sani Yakubu
13. Safiyanu Abubakar
14. Abdullahi Abubakar
15. Abubakar Musa
16. Abdul Mudassir
17. Suleiman Lawal
18. Usman Abdullahi
19. Samuel Sambo
20. Ibrahim Musa
21. Yusuf Nasiru
22. Umar Lawal
23. Isyaku Amisu
24. Bissallah Adamu
25. Abdulbari Suleiman
26. Shafisu Lado
27. Usman Ahmad
28. Usman Ibrahim
29. Sani Isyaku
30. Musa Ibrahim
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31. Idris Bashir
32. Kabiru Suleiman
33. Emmanuel Emeka
34. Mu’awiya AbdulKarim (not included in the general hospital list)
35. Abdul Gafar Abubakar (not included in the general hospital list)
36. Usman Haruna (not included in the general hospital list)
37. Aro Salihu Soba (not included in the general hospital list)
Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, the NSCDC Commandant General, was instructed by the minister to carry out a “full-scale, transparent, and unhindered investigation” into the incident.
In line with the directive, Audi ordered the Niger State Commandant to resign immediately and report to the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja to appear before the panel of inquiry established to investigate the incident.
The state commandant is to be accompanied by the Heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence and Investigation, who have also been directed to report to the panel.
Audi has also ordered a new commandant to proceed to Niger State and assume immediate command of the state command.
In a statement signed by the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, the corps said it would conduct a thorough investigation and that personnel found to have breached the law or established professional standards would face appropriate sanctions.
“The CG assures the Hon Minister of Interior that no stone would be left unturned in the investigation process,” the statement said.
According to the NSCDC, any officer or personnel found to have acted contrary to the law, established procedures or professional standards would face “appropriate administrative, disciplinary and, where applicable, criminal sanctions in accordance with extant laws and regulations.”
“The NSCDC remains committed to upholding the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of every person in its custody,” the statement said.
It added that while the corps would continue to enforce its statutory mandate, including the fight against illegal mining and the protection of Nigeria’s critical national assets, such operations would be carried out in accordance with the law and established professional standards.
