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Questions have arisen over the conduct of Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody after a mass arrest operation.
The controversy followed enforcement operations conducted by the Niger State NSCDC Command on September 15 and 16 as part of a crackdown on illegal mining activities in the state.
The operation led to the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners, several of whom were later found dead while in custody.
The NSCDC initially said the deaths followed a suspected outbreak of disease, but stressed that the actual cause could only be established through medical and laboratory examinations. The corpses were subsequently deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for further examination.
The incident has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the conditions under which the suspects were detained and the measures put in place to accommodate and provide medical attention to such a large number of detainees.
It has also drawn attention to the role of the Niger State command in enforcing laws against illegal mining, particularly given the Federal Government’s establishment of the Mining Marshals as a specialised NSCDC unit dedicated to tackling illegal mining.
The NSCDC describes the Mining Marshals as the unit that “lead the fight” against illegal mining through enforcement, the dismantling of unlawful operations and the protection of legitimate investments.
The corps has also identified the Mining Marshals as one of its specialised operational units, alongside other units established to respond to specific security and economic crimes.
The circumstances surrounding the Niger operation have therefore raised questions about how the state command’s enforcement approach was conducted and whether adequate arrangements were made for the welfare and safety of those arrested.
The questions are particularly significant because the deaths occurred within about two days of the arrests, while the NSCDC itself has said its investigation would examine the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, their period in custody, the conditions of detention and the medical attention provided to them.
The development prompted the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to order the immediate suspension of Aniviye and a full investigation into the incident.
“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended.
“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this,” the minister said.
The suspension came after the NSCDC had already constituted a high-powered investigative team, led by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation, to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Among the issues expected to form part of the investigation are whether the detention facility had adequate ventilation and sanitation, whether it was suitable for the number of people detained, and whether the suspects received timely medical attention.
The investigation is also expected to establish whether overcrowding or any other condition at the facility contributed to the deaths. At this stage, however, authorities have not established overcrowding as a cause of death.
The NSCDC has cautioned against speculation over the cause of the deaths, saying reports attributing them to a specific disease remain subject to medical and laboratory confirmation.
The incident has also triggered broader questions about the scale of the arrests and the decision to detain a large number of suspects following the anti-illegal mining operation.
While illegal mining remains the stated target of the enforcement exercise, the deaths have shifted attention to the responsibility of security agencies to ensure that suspects in their custody are protected and receive appropriate care.
Amnesty International has called for an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the deaths, saying the circumstances surrounding the detention and subsequent deaths must be fully established.
The incident has also revived debate over security priorities in Niger State, which is simultaneously grappling with banditry, kidnapping and attacks on rural communities.
The outcome of the investigations by the NSCDC and the Federal Government is expected to determine what happened between the arrests and the deaths, whether there were operational or administrative failures, and whether any officials should bear responsibility.This version deliberately avoids concluding that Aniviye personally caused the deaths; the stronger accountability angle is to focus on what happened under his command and what the investigation establishes.
