Pix: Commandant Siaka Zubeiru

By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor-in-Chief, People’s Security Monitor

The suspended former Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, Siaka Zubeiru Anirive, has apologised to the families of suspected illegal miners who died in the Corps’ custody, as well as the people and government of the state. He offered the apology on Thursday while testifying before the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Commission of Inquiry in Minna, describing the incident as a costly mistake that occurred during his tenure.Anirive, who served as the state commandant from August 25, 2025, to September 18, 2026, admitted that the tragedy could have been avoided.

He appealed to the bereaved families and the Niger State Government for forgiveness, expressing regret over the deaths of the detainees. Explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrests, he said the NSCDC received written and oral petitions from residents of the M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate over alleged disturbances caused by mining activities in the area.

He said he personally visited the site on September 15, 2026, before directing officers of the Mining Marshals, through the command’s operations unit, to carry out an operation.

The arrests were made on the evening of September 16. The suspended commandant told the commission that he learnt of the deaths on the morning of September 17 while preparing to leave for work.

He said he immediately rushed to the command’s office and discovered several bodies on the floor of the detention cell.

According to him, he informed Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who directed that the bodies be taken to a mortuary, and contacted the command’s medical unit to arrange their evacuation. He also notified the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services, who arrived at the facility.

Anirive further disclosed that arrangements had been made to arraign the suspects in court on September 17, the same day their deaths were discovered.

His testimony formed part of the commission’s investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths of the suspected illegal miners while in NSCDC custody.Also testifying, the suspended head of the NSCDC Niger State Command’s Legal Unit, ACC Stephen Tsado, said he had advised Anirive to release minors among the arrested suspects to their parents on bail. Tsado explained that his duties included preparing case files, initiating prosecutions and providing legal advice to the command.

He said he was concerned about the presence of minors among the detainees and advised that their rights be protected, but he could not explain why his recommendation was not acted upon.

A nurse attached to the command’s medical unit, Maryam Etang, told the commission that she visited the detention cell on September 16 and 17 as part of her routine duties.

She said she observed that one suspect was coughing severely during a visit on the evening of September 16. Etang added that she was shocked the following day when she saw the body of Emeka Emmanuel among the deceased, insisting that he was not one of the miners arrested during the operation.

The commission is examining the events leading to the deaths, the conditions under which the suspects were detained, the treatment they received and the actions of the officers involved.

The testimonies of Anirive, Tsado and Etang are expected to assist the panel in establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident and determining whether there were failures in the handling of the detainees.