Minna – National Focus NG

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

Timothy Atoyebi — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:15:30 +0000

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.

NSCDC Custody Deaths: Nigeria Must Restore Dignity to Human Lives – Obi

Timothy Atoyebi — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 04:42:27 +0000

The death of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, has raised concerns over the treatment of suspects in government detention facilities.
Reacting to the incident, the Nigeria democratic congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi called for urgent answers, stressing that the deceased were human beings who deserved protection, humane treatment and the opportunity to face due process, regardless of the offences they were suspected of committing.
In a statement, PO described the deaths as a deeply troubling tragedy, demanding a transparent, independent and credible investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The statement noted that reports of disease, overcrowding and inadequate ventilation had emerged as possible factors, but stressed that the actual cause of the deaths must be established through a thorough investigation.
“Security is not merely about arresting people. Security is about protecting lives, upholding the dignity of every citizen, and ensuring that the institutions entrusted with our safety operate within the law,” Obi said
Obi further maintained that Nigeria could not claim to value human life if people entered government custody alive and died without immediate, transparent and credible accountability.

Tinubu Orders Probe Into Deaths of Suspected Illegal Miners in Niger NSCDC Custody

Timothy Atoyebi — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 20:09:53 +0000

suspected illegal miners who were detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.The President said the investigation followed reports of deaths among the suspects detained during enforcement operations around the Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.Tinubu, in a statement, expressed concern over the incident and stressed that every Nigerian has the right to life and humane treatment while in government custody.“The life of every Nigerian matters. No citizen should lose their life while in government custody as a result of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty,” the President said.He said the circumstances surrounding the deaths must be urgently and thoroughly established, adding that the government’s fight against illegal mining and other criminal activities must be carried out within the law.“The fact that these individuals were suspected of illegal mining does not remove their right to life, dignity and humane treatment,” Tinubu said.The President directed investigators to establish the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the conditions under which they were held and the number of people detained at the facility.He also ordered that the investigation examine the medical attention provided to the detainees and the events leading to their deaths.Tinubu warned that any official found to have contributed to the deaths through abuse, negligence or dereliction of duty would face legal consequences.“Where the investigation establishes that any official, through action, abuse or negligence, contributed to these deaths, that officer must be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. There must be accountability,” he said.The President also clarified that the suspension of officers involved in the matter would not replace a criminal investigation where evidence points to possible wrongdoing.“The suspension of officers is an administrative step. It cannot substitute for a proper determination of criminal responsibility where the evidence warrants prosecution,” he said.Tinubu directed the Ministry of Interior and the NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with relevant investigative authorities and warned officers against interfering with the process.He also appealed for calm among the affected families and communities while extending his condolences to the families of those who died.“We must never allow the pursuit of one form of illegality to create another. Government must enforce the law firmly, but government itself must obey the law,” the President said.“The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable.”