Emmanuel Was Not An Illegal Miner – D English Alhaji Raises Fresh Questions Over NSCDC Deaths

Nigerian social commentator D English Alhaji has raised fresh questions about the death of a man identified as Emmanuel, who was among the 37 detainees who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

According to Bush Radio Academy, D English Alhaji made the claim in a video circulating online, alleging that Emmanuel was not an illegal miner but was detained following a dispute with his employer over an alleged financial imbalance.

The social commentator claimed that Emmanuel and his employer had a disagreement after completing an account, after which the employer allegedly took him to an NSCDC detention facility.

D English Alhaji further alleged that Emmanuel was already being held at the facility before suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations were brought in and placed in the same cell.

He claimed that Emmanuel remained in detention from the previous Friday until Thursday, September 17, when the deaths were discovered. He also alleged that Emmanuel’s father attempted to intervene by appealing to his son’s employer but was unsuccessful.

The claims come amid an ongoing investigation into the deaths of 37 detainees in NSCDC custody. The victims were among people arrested during operations targeting suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on September 15 and 16.

Authorities have not yet established the definitive cause or circumstances of the deaths. The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the incident and has suspended officers involved pending the outcome of the inquiry.

D English Alhaji’s account, including the claim about Emmanuel’s circumstances before his detention, has not been independently established in the available official investigation reports. The allegations therefore remain subject to verification as authorities continue their inquiry.