Niger Mining Tragedy: IBB Rejects Claim Of Owning Site Where 37 Suspects Were Arrested

Former military Head of State, retired General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has denied any connection with the gold-mining site in Niger State where 37 suspected illegal miners were arrested before they later died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

According to Bush Radio Academy, Babangida made the clarification through his representative, Dr Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, following a report that linked the former military ruler to ownership of the mining site.

The report had quoted a survivor of the incident, Malam Babawo Tudun Nasera, as identifying Babangida as the alleged owner of the mine where the miners were arrested.

Nasera reportedly made the claim while recounting the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the miners, including his 17-year-old brother, Salim. According to the account, the miners had allegedly been instructed to stop their activities at the site despite an alleged directive from the purported owner to continue working.

When asked about the identity of the alleged owner, Nasera reportedly responded that the site belonged to Babangida and further claimed that the former military ruler had instructed the miners to continue their activities.

However, Abdulhameed strongly rejected the allegation, describing it as false, baseless and without foundation. He said Babangida had no involvement whatsoever in the mining operation and urged the public to disregard the report linking him to the site.

Abdulhameed also demanded that the publication be corrected, insisting that the allegation had created a false impression about the former Head of State.

He said Babangida had no connection with the mining operation in question and maintained that the claim should not be relied upon as factual.

The denial comes amid ongoing investigations into the deaths of the 37 suspected miners, whose deaths in NSCDC custody have generated widespread concern and prompted investigations by relevant authorities.

Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine the events that led to the tragedy.