Atiku Questions Deaths of 37 Miners in NSCDC Custody

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has questioned the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who were reportedly held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

Atiku raised the issue in a statement while reacting to a video featuring a young boy from a gold-mining community in the state. He questioned why communities with valuable mineral resources continue to experience poverty and limited access to basic opportunities such as education.

The former vice president said the situation raised broader concerns about how Nigeria manages its mineral resources and how much benefit reaches communities where mining activities take place.

Atiku also criticised the Federal Government’s handling of artisanal mining, comparing the current approach with the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI), which was introduced under former President Muhammadu Buhari to support the formalisation of artisanal gold mining.

He argued that the government’s treatment of people involved in informal mining should take into account the economic conditions that push residents into the activity, particularly in communities where poverty remains widespread.

According to Atiku, the child featured in the video represented the difficulties faced by residents of mining communities and the limited opportunities available to them despite the natural resources around them.

He also called on the Federal Government to explain the current status of PAGMI in Niger State and provide details about the circumstances that led to the deaths of the 37 suspected miners while in NSCDC custody.

Atiku said the classification of the deceased as illegal miners should not prevent authorities from investigating how they died and establishing responsibility where necessary.

His comments come as the Federal Government has suspended 20 NSCDC officers and established an independent committee to investigate the deaths. The panel is expected to establish the identities of the deceased, examine their arrests and detention, determine the circumstances and causes of death, and recommend further action where appropriate.