Shock As Illegal Miners Return To Niger Site Days After 37 D!e In NSCDC Custody

Illegal miners have returned to the M.I. Wushishi mining site in Minna, Niger State, just days after 37 suspected illegal miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

A visit to the site on Saturday found women, adults and underage persons carrying out mining activities despite the recent NSCDC operation and the deaths of the detained suspects. The miners were seen using shovels, picks and other hand tools to excavate soil, while some gathered loose earth into sacks and pans and others used a nearby stream to separate materials from the excavated soil. No security personnel were reportedly present at the site during the visit.

According to Bush Radio Academy, some miners initially stayed away from the site following the NSCDC raid and the deaths in custody. However, others returned, saying they depend on mining as their main source of income and had limited alternatives for earning a living.

The NSCDC had said the suspected illegal miners were arrested during enforcement operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around the Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate and other areas in Minna. The then Niger State commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, said the detainees were found dead after what he described as a suspected disease outbreak.

The deaths have since triggered an official investigation. The Federal Government suspended the Niger State NSCDC commandant and ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. President Bola Tinubu also directed that the investigation be transparent and unhindered.

Salisu DanMallam, a miner who said he had worked at the site for more than 15 years, explained that he stayed away from the area for two days following the NSCDC operation. He said the absence affected his income because mining was his major source of livelihood.

DanMallam said miners at the site had developed close relationships over the years and described them as being like a family. However, he said he had yet to establish how many of those arrested were dead or still alive.

He also explained that miners generally avoided digging too deeply because of the risk of landslides, saying they usually did not excavate beyond knee level.

Another miner, 26-year-old Buhari Rabiu, said he had spent about two years working at the site. According to him, miners were alerted that NSCDC officers were approaching, prompting many of them to leave before the arrests began.

Rabiu also alleged that he had previously been assaulted by NSCDC officers during a raid on suspected illegal miners. He claimed that he sustained injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment before his parents secured his release. He further alleged that N120,000 was collected as bail and claimed that a friend was shot during an encounter with NSCDC personnel. These allegations have not been independently established.

The NSCDC has since arrested 24 personnel, including the suspended Niger State commandant, as part of its investigation into the deaths. The corps said due process, transparency and accountability would guide the investigation and that personnel found culpable would face disciplinary and legal action.

A new commandant, Abdulhamid Kabara, has also been deployed to lead the Niger State NSCDC command following Aniviye’s suspension.

Meanwhile, the miners who have returned to the M.I. Wushishi site continue to face the difficult choice between their livelihood and the risks associated with the mining environment as investigations into the deaths remain ongoing.