Niger Mining D3aths: Legal Officer Says He Advised NSCDC Chief To Release Minors On Bail

The suspended Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Siaka Zubeiru Anirive, has admitted that the deaths of suspected illegal miners in the corps’ custody could have been prevented, apologising to the victims’ families and the Niger State Government.

Anirive made the admission while testifying before the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Commission of Inquiry in Minna, which is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the detainees.

Describing the incident as a costly mistake, the suspended commandant expressed regret that the deaths occurred during his tenure and appealed to the bereaved families and the state government for forgiveness.

“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 told the commission.

His testimony came amid revelations that the command’s legal officer had advised him to release minors arrested during the operation to their parents on bail, but the recommendation was allegedly not followed.

Anirive told the inquiry that he assumed office as Niger State NSCDC commandant on August 25, 2025, and remained in the position until September 18, 2026.

He explained that the operation leading to the arrests followed written and verbal complaints from residents of the M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna, who alleged that mining activities in the area were disturbing their community.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Anirive said he visited the mining site on September 15, 2026, before directing the command’s Head of Operations, Assistant Commandant of Corps Joha Achagwa, to act on the complaints.

The Mining Marshal unit was subsequently deployed, leading to the arrest of suspected illegal miners during an operation conducted on the evening of September 16.

However, several detainees reportedly died in NSCDC custody the following day.

Anirive told the commission that he received a telephone call informing him that some of the suspects had died. He said he immediately rushed to the command headquarters, where he found several bodies on the floor of the detention cell.

He added that he contacted Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, who directed him to arrange for the bodies to be taken to a hospital. The suspended commandant also said he informed the state Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services about the incident.

Anirive further disclosed that arrangements had been made to arraign the suspects in court on September 17 before their deaths occurred.

The inquiry also heard testimony from the suspended head of the NSCDC Legal Unit, Assistant Commandant of Corps Stephen Tsado, who provided details of his role in advising the command on legal matters.

Tsado said his responsibilities included preparing case files, forwarding cases for prosecution and offering legal guidance to the commandant.

He explained that after identifying minors among those arrested during the operation, he advised Anirive to release them to their parents on bail to protect their rights.

“I advised him to grant them bail to their parents,” Tsado told the commission, adding that he personally urged the commandant to act on the recommendation but did not know why it was not implemented.

Further questions emerged from the testimony of Nurse Maryam Etang of the NSCDC medical unit, who said she visited the detention facility as part of her routine duties on September 16 and 17.

Etang told the commission that one of the suspects was coughing severely on September 17, around the time the bodies were being removed from the cell.

She also said she was shocked to discover the body of Emeka Emmanuel among those removed, claiming that he was not among the miners arrested during the operation.

Her testimony has raised additional questions about the identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding Emmanuel’s presence in the detention facility.

The commission is expected to establish the events leading to the deaths, examine the treatment of the detainees and determine whether there were failures in the handling of those held by the NSCDC.

In an earlier proceeding, a mortician at Minna General Hospital reportedly told the commission that 33 bodies had been delivered to the hospital’s mortuary, a figure that differed from the 37 deaths reported by the state government and other authorities.

The inquiry continues as investigators seek to clarify the conflicting accounts, establish the number of victims and determine responsibility for the incident.