NIGER MINERS’ DEATHS: PANEL DETAILS ROLES OF NSCDC COMMANDANT AND FOUR OFFICERS

An independent ministerial panel has identified alleged misconduct by the suspended Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Suberu Aniviye, and four other officers in connection with the deaths of miners in custody.

The committee’s chairman, Jonathan Kure, presented the findings to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja on Tuesday.

The report outlined failures involving unlawful detention, overcrowding, poor supervision, ignored distress signals and alterations to the detention area before an independent forensic examination.

According to the panel, Aniviye authorised and supervised the operation without proper planning, approval or oversight. It also found that he allowed overcrowding and failed to ensure lawful detention procedures.

The committee further alleged that the commandant issued a false public statement attributing the deaths to a disease outbreak. It described his conduct as gross leadership failure and an abuse of authority.

The head of the Investigation Unit, CSC Oluwadare Sunday, was accused of facilitating unlawful detention and disregarding legal and medical concerns despite knowing that conditions were worsening.

The panel said SC Usman Isah Ndamaka maintained the overcrowded conditions, instructed subordinates not to open the cell and failed to respond appropriately to emergency alerts. It also accused him of participating in cleaning and altering the detention area before independent investigators examined it.

Station Guard ASCI Hassan Mohammed was faulted for allegedly failing to open the cell despite repeated distress signals and not adequately escalating the emergency.

The committee also accused DSC Sule Garba of failing to adequately protect detainees’ rights, including those of minors, during profiling, and of improperly documenting exhibits.

The report places leadership, detainee welfare and officers’ responses to the emergency at the centre of the panel’s findings.