Miners’ Deaths: Call for sack of NSCDC boss misguided, unnecessary distraction — CSOs
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
ABUJA — The Coalition of Civil Societies for Transparency and Accountability (COSTA) has condemned the call for the termination of the tenure of the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi.
The condemnation comes in the wake of an alleged call by a lawyer and human rights activist, Hamza Dantani, for the sack of the NSCDC boss following the unfortunate incident in which 37 persons suspected of illegal mining lost their lives while in NSCDC custody in Minna, Niger State.
In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Bilal Galadima, the group said the call was untimely and “mischievous,” and amounted to an unnecessary distraction.
“We wish to state unequivocally that the call is not only untimely and mischievous, but amounts to an unnecessary distraction from the substantive issue,” the statement said.
COSTA further stated: “We sincerely sympathise with the families affected in the unfortunate incident where 37 persons suspected of illegal mining lost their lives while in NSCDC custody in Minna, Niger State.
“According to the NSCDC, the suspects were arrested during operations conducted on September 15 and 16, 2026, around the Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna.
“The Corps spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, had disclosed that over 50 persons were arrested and were yet to be charged because profiling and documentation were still underway before the tragic deaths occurred.
“From available information, the Niger State Commandant confessed that he did not inform his boss, the Commandant-General, about the arrest of the alleged illegal miners. In line with the Constitution, all parties remain presumed innocent until contrary evidence is presented.
“It is on record that the Federal Government has already suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“At this sober moment, it is rather shocking that, instead of awaiting the outcome of the different layers of investigation already ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Dantani and his associates chose to grandstand and overheat the polity.”
The civil society group said it was pertinent to ask:
“Where was this lawyer when a military drone killed 85 civilians gathered for a religious celebration in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State?
“Where was this lawyer when 16 civilians were killed in a military airstrike in Zurmi and Maradun local government areas of Zamfara State, and in similar accidental killings in Sokoto and Borno states, and he did not demand the sack of the then service chiefs?
“We assume the petitioner was in Nigeria, knew about the killings and brutality during the #EndSARS protests, and yet failed to demand the dismissal of the then Inspector-General of Police.
“The NSCDC is one of Nigeria’s finest security outfits, with a well-established command structure comprising 37 state commandants, several deputy commandants-general, assistant commandants-general, and specialised units such as the Mining Marshals.
“It is, therefore, illogical to demand the sack of the Commandant-General for an operational lapse at a state command that was not reported to him.
“Instead of this distraction, we call on Dantani and all well-meaning Nigerians to allow the rule of law to take its full course as we await the outcome of the investigations into this unfortunate incident.”
The group called on all agencies and organs of government to remain calm and await the report of the probe committee set up by the Federal Government.
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