Niger Miners’ Deaths: Panel Details Roles of NSCDC Commandant and Four Officers

An independent ministerial committee investigating the deaths of miners held in NSCDC custody accused suspended Niger State Commandant Suberu Aniviye and several officers of serious misconduct. It said Aniviye oversaw a poorly planned operation, allowed overcrowding and issued a false explanation for the deaths, while officers allegedly ignored distress signals or altered the scene before forensic examination. The report, presented in Abuja on Tuesday to Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also cited institutional failures, including a lack of CCTV monitoring and insufficient emergency medical capacity.