By Ikeddy ISIGUZO
AN apparent presidential concern at the death of 37 minors in the detention facility of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna, has resulted in the setting up of a probe of two of Tinubu’s most trusted Ministers – Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior which oversees the NSCDC, and Dr. Henry Dele Alake of Solid Minerals.
Riots broke out in Minna by folks who could not believe that 37 people, deemed illegal gold miners, died in detention within days of their arrest. The mismanagement of the riot, including alleged firing of bullets at protesters worsened the tension in Minna.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, at a press conference, looking as confused as those who started the confusion, imposed a curfew to curb the commotion that had seen government property burnt.
“We were jam-packed in the cell, no ventilation for us to breathe well,” one of the survivors recounted.
“All of a sudden we realised that we could not breathe and we were all scampering for where to get fresh air, we even appealed to them several times, banged the cell door but they refused to answer us.
“Several times, we raised alarm that some people are already dying because of suffocation, nobody answered us.”
“We were screaming for help,” he said, telling guards that “people are dying one after the other, they did not believe us”.
Minors watching their friends and colleagues dying and there was no help.
Cause of the deaths appear therefore to be suffocation. The NSCDC knew it was in trouble. It started suggesting that they could have died of “disease”, associated with illegal gold mining.
Unsatisfied with its own lies, it suspended the state commandant. The story of the survivors pointed at negligence at the plight of detainees, mere suspects, as the cause of death.
Niger, Nigeria’s largest State by land mass, is the epicentre of Illegal mining of gold with large forests providing cover for the banditry associated with illegal mining that spreads to neighbouring States.
The Ministry of Interior said it had suspended Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, the state commandant of NSCDC, while the incident was being investigated.
“A full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo’s statement said.
Why is the Tinubu government in panic? The Solid Minerals sector is a no-go area for him. Outside the allegations of official collusion in illegal gold mining, especially in Zamfara State where illegal mining has the status of an industry, he has managed to keep matters quiet.
Do solid minerals contribute to the national coffers? Yes, according to officially published figures that mentioned N70 billion in 2025, almost double of 2024’s N38 billion.
Industry insiders say what is lost to illegal mining is a lot more.
Two years ago, Dr. Alake lauded the training of 2,200 Mining Marshalls drawn from the NSCDC, as part of Tinubu’s reform of the sector. The Marshalls were said to had been remarkable in recovering abandoned mining fields, and chasing out illegal miners.
Dr. Alake had said that their training and equipment cost billions of Naira. Throughout the narratives of the tragedy in Minna, there was no mention of any role the Mining Marshalls played.
Where are the Mining Marshalls?
Probe of NSCDC at the House of Representatives that was supposed to have ended in August stalled. Among the issues is how NSCDC leadership re-assigned an officer who allegedly had N2 billion in his personal accounts – no queries, no punishment.
There is therefore no confidence in government finding out what happened to these voiceless.
*Who are their bosses, the ones for whom they mine the gold?
*Is NSCDC aware of allegations that they take sides in the illegal gold war?
*Why were these minors not treated as suspects?
The deaths in Minna point to how Nigerians youths are wasted. With no education, no skills, illegal activities become a common choice. How many more are in the bushes engaging in more illegalities?
20 Died in Taraba, Not Counted
The same day that a riot broke in Minna, 20 people, including women and children, died in Mayo Kam community in Bali Local Government Area, Taraba State, 834 kilometres from Minna. An illegal mining pit collapsed on them following heavy rains and unregulated digging.
Tinubu was mute on them. Maybe illegal mining deaths in Taraba State do not count. Or the Minister of Solid Minerals is unaware that illegal gold mining goes in Taraba. It is also possible that 20 people – who didn’t wait for NSCDC to suffocate them – is a low number for the holidaying President’s attention.
Nigeran lives should count. We need a government that would protect us and Nigeria’s resources.
Finally…
.CHEERY news for many Nigerians was watching the Falconets beat England 3-0 to advance to the quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Good luck to the young ladies.
. DID roads across Nigeria conspire to tell Tinubu that his Minister of Works David Umahi is just full of hot air? Nigeria’s highways have collapsed and Umahi is dancing around Tinubu singing Bola Ahmed Tinubu Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Nigerians deserve better.
.MINISTER of Power Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe after four months in office, claim people were calling him that he had done so well and urging him to slow down. Evidence of his great performance – fridges were freezing. Even in rainy season, electricity supply has deteriorated. Only Tinubu knows where he finds this lot.
.WEEKS after Minister of Defence Gen Christopher Musa defeated terrorists, our field commanders are still fighting them. Musa is politicising insecurity.
ISIGUZO is a major commentator on minor issues
