Inquiry criticises Nigerian civil defence corps after 37 miners die
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Leadership
Niger State’s commissioner for internal security called the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps’ intervention leading to 69 miners’ arrests “unprofessional”. Before an inquiry into 37 miners’ deaths, he said officers had exceeded their powers, while an NSCDC official said they had followed orders from their suspended commander, according to Leadership.
Niger State Commissioner for Internal Security Maurice Justin Magaji accused officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of exceeding their rules of engagement during an operation that led to the arrest of 69 miners, 37 of whom died in detention. He described their conduct as “unprofessional” before the commission of inquiry led by Justice Mohammed Mohammed, according to Leadership.
The NSCDC’s head of operations in Niger State, John Abraham, said the operation had been conducted on the orders of the suspended divisional commander, Siaka Subairu Aniviye. He added that the suspects were subsequently handed over to the intelligence and investigations department, Leadership reports.
Maurice Justin Magaji said he had been informed of the deaths on 17 September 2026 by the suspended commander. He then alerted the governor, who ordered the bodies to be transferred to a hospital; funds were released for their transport, he told the inquiry.
The hearing comes after the Nigerian Mining Marshals denied involvement in the miners’ deaths, in a statement published on 18 October 2026.
