MINNA, Niger State, October 17, 2026 – The suspended Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, has admitted that the deaths of suspected illegal miners in the corps’ custody could have been avoided, describing the incident as a costly mistake and apologising to the victims’ families and the Niger State Government.
Aniviye tendered the apology while testifying before a commission of inquiry chaired by Justice Mohammed Mohammed in Minna, the state capital, where proceedings are examining the circumstances surrounding the deaths reported in September.
According to reports by the African Independent Television, AIT, the suspended commandant expressed regret that the incident occurred during his tenure and acknowledged that the loss of lives could have been prevented.
The deaths occurred after NSCDC operatives arrested suspected illegal miners during enforcement operations around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on September 15 and 16, 2026. On September 17, the corps reported that several detainees had died in custody.
The incident prompted widespread public concern and a federal government investigation. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered Aniviye’s immediate suspension pending investigations, while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for a full and transparent inquiry into the deaths.
The commission also heard testimony from the suspended head of the NSCDC legal unit, Assistant Commandant of Corps Stephen Tsado, who said he had advised Aniviye to release underage suspects to their parents on bail.
Tsado reportedly told the panel that he made the recommendation after noticing that some of those arrested were minors. His testimony has raised further questions about the handling of vulnerable detainees and whether appropriate legal safeguards were followed during the operation.
Aniviye had earlier said the arrests were part of efforts to curb illegal mining following complaints from residents about mining activities in the area. At the time the deaths were announced, the NSCDC attributed them to a suspected disease outbreak, while stating that medical examinations would be required to establish the actual cause.
The incident also led to the suspension and investigation of other NSCDC personnel connected to the arrests and detention of the suspects.
The commission is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the conditions in which the suspects were held, the medical attention provided to detainees and the actions of officers responsible for their custody.
The investigation is also expected to help establish the cause of the deaths and determine whether negligence, misconduct or breaches of procedure contributed to the tragedy.
The reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners have placed renewed attention on the responsibility of security agencies to protect the lives and rights of people in their custody, regardless of the allegations against them.
The commission’s findings are expected to provide further clarity on the incident and guide decisions on accountability and measures to prevent a recurrence.
