Nigeria survivor says 48 miners died in custody
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Leadership
A survivor says 48 miners died in detention by Nigeria’s civil defence services, against 37 previously reported, and accuses officers of taking his gold and 1.35 million nairas. Abdulsalam Yakubu testified before the judicial commission in Minna, according to Leadership.
Abdulsalam Yakubu, a miner who survived detention by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says 48 people died in custody in Niger State, compared with the widely reported figure of 37. He gave this testimony on Wednesday before the Mohammed Mohammed judicial commission, meeting in Minna, Leadership reports.
Yakubu also accuses NSCDC officers of taking two bottles of mined gold and 1.35 million nairas, worth about 800 dollars, when he was arrested at a mining site in the Lokoto area of Bosso district. He says his work tools and other valuables were not returned.
The witness said he turned to mining after fleeing Allawa, in Shiroro district, because of repeated attacks by bandits. Relocated to a camp for displaced people in Minna with his elderly parents, he says he continues to go to mining sites because he has no other means of subsistence, according to Leadership.
The commission is investigating the deaths of miners detained in Minna and has already examined the responsibility of the Mining Marshals, a unit tasked with combating illegal mining. It had in particular condemned the unit on 28 October after 37 deaths in detention.
