Suspended Civil Defence chief Apologises as Probe Uncovers Ignored Legal Advice
The suspended Niger State commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Aniviye, has apologised to the families of suspected illegal miners who died in custody, admitting that the tragedy could have been prevented.
Aniviye expressed regret while testifying before a judicial commission of inquiry in Minna, Niger State, describing the incident as a “costly mistake” and apologising to the victims’ families and the state government.
The inquiry also heard that the command’s former head of legal services, Stephen Tsado, had advised Aniviye to release minors arrested during the operation to their parents on bail. Tsado said he personally urged the commandant to follow the advice to protect the minors’ rights, but the recommendation was not implemented.
The detainees were arrested during an operation targeting suspected illegal mining activities around the M. I. Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna on September 16, 2026. Aniviye told the panel that he learnt of the deaths the following day and found several bodies at the command headquarters.
Further questions emerged when an NSCDC nurse, Maryam Etang, told the commission that she was surprised to find the body of a man identified as Emeka Emmanuel among those removed from the cell, saying he was not among the miners arrested during the operation.
The inquiry is examining the circumstances of the deaths and the conduct of officers involved. Reports have cited 37 deaths, although a mortician previously told the panel that 33 bodies were delivered to the Minna General Hospital mortuary.
The deaths prompted the suspension of NSCDC officers and a wider investigation ordered by the federal government. The commission is expected to establish how the detainees died and whether official procedures and safeguards were breached.
