“Deaths of 37 miners in custody were avoidable,” suspended NSCDC commandant says as he apologises to families

Suberu Aniviye, suspended NSCDC commandant in Niger State, called the deaths of 37 suspected miners in custody a “costly mistake” and apologised to their families before an inquiry panel in Minna. He said the arrests followed complaints from residents around M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate and that the suspects were due in court on September 17. Stephen Tsado, the command’s former legal unit head, said he had advised releasing underage suspects on bail, while a nurse testified that Emeka Emmanuel, whose body was found among the dead, had not been arrested in the operation. The federal government suspended Aniviye and launched an investigation; on October 5, Vice-President Kashim Shettima announced ₦250 million in assistance for the families.