Niger Miners’ Deaths: Suspended NSCDC Commandant Apologises; Lawyer Says Advice on Minors Was Ignored

Suspended Niger State NSCDC commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye told the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Commission of Inquiry that the deaths of suspected illegal miners in custody could have been avoided and apologised to their families and the state government. Suspended legal unit head Stephen Tsado said he had advised Aniviye to bail the underage suspects to their parents, but his advice was ignored. Aniviye said the arrests followed residents’ complaints about mining near M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate and took place on September 16, 2026; he found the bodies in the detention cell the next day. Nurse Maryam Etang testified that one body was Emeka Emmanuel, who had not been among those arrested in the operation.