Atiku Donates N20m To Families Of 37 Miners Who Died In NSCDC Custody

Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has donated N20 million to families affected by the deaths of 37 suspected artisanal miners who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

Atiku made the donation on Tuesday during a visit to Minna, where he met with affected families and survivors of the incident.

The former Vice President also paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Minna and Chairman of the Minna Emirate Council, Alhaji (Dr.) Umar Farouk Bahago, and visited former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.).

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the incident as a painful reminder of the challenges facing young Nigerians struggling to survive amid economic hardship.

“It was a gory tale listening to one of the survivors. He told us that more than 68 of them were crammed into one small detention facility and that conditions became so desperate that they had to drink one another’s urine just to stay hydrated.

“No Nigerian should ever be subjected to such indignity in the custody of his own government. These were human beings in the care of the state. Whatever accusations may have been made against them, they were entitled to their lives, their dignity and the protection of the law.”

Atiku said the deaths should prompt the government to address poverty, unemployment and the economic pressures pushing young Nigerians into hazardous and poorly regulated livelihoods.

“Thirty-seven young Nigerians entered the custody of the state alive and did not return alive to their families. That tragedy demands truth, justice and accountability,” he said.

He added that attention should also be given to the circumstances that force young people to engage in dangerous occupations to make a living.

The ADC presidential candidate also criticised the economic difficulties facing households, saying government policies should be assessed based on their impact on ordinary Nigerians.

“When families can no longer afford the basics and young people are forced to take extraordinary risks just to earn a living, government cannot pretend that everything is working,” Atiku said.

He reiterated his proposal for a targeted production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria if elected president, saying the policy would support domestic refining, create jobs and reduce the cost of fuel for consumers.

“My promise to make life affordable again is not a political slogan. It is a solemn covenant with the Nigerian people,” he said.

“We will support what Nigeria produces. We will support fuel refined in Nigeria, create Nigerian jobs and insist that every naira of government support delivers a measurable benefit to the consumer.

“The purpose of government is not merely to announce reforms. The purpose of government is to make life better for the people.”

Atiku said young Nigerians should have access to education, skills, jobs and other opportunities that would enable them to build productive livelihoods rather than depend on dangerous and uncertain means of survival.