Former Vice President and presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has extended a condolence visit and financial support of ₦20 million to the families of 37 artisanal miners who tragically died recently in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
Abubakar made the significant donation on Tuesday during his visit to Minna, where he also paid his respects to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Bahago. The incident, which occurred on September 17, saw 37 detainees perish days after their arrest during NSCDC operations targeting alleged illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State. The exact circumstances leading to their deaths remain a subject of ongoing investigations.
Calls for Truth, Justice, and Accountability
During his meeting with the bereaved families and survivors, Atiku Abubakar strongly condemned the deaths as a profound tragedy, emphasizing the urgent need for truth, justice, and accountability. He expressed deep concern over the accounts shared by survivors regarding the inhumane conditions of detention.
A statement released by Mr. Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to the former Vice President, quoted Abubakar detailing a survivor’s disturbing narrative: “It was a gory tale listening to one of the survivors. He told us that more than 68 of them were crammed into one small detention facility and that conditions became so desperate that they had to drink one another’s urine just to stay hydrated.”
Abubakar asserted that all detainees, regardless of alleged offenses, are entitled to humane treatment and protection under the law. “No Nigerian should ever be subjected to such indignity in the custody of his own government. These were human beings in the care of the state. Whatever accusations may have been made against them, they were entitled to their lives, their dignity and the protection of the law,” he stated.
Government Initiatives and Economic Policy Link
The Federal Government has responded to the public outcry by establishing a 10-member independent investigative committee to ascertain both the immediate and underlying causes of the deaths. Additionally, 20 NSCDC officers, including the Niger State Commandant, have been suspended pending the investigation’s outcome. The Niger State Government has also launched its own nine-member judicial commission of inquiry to probe the incident and establish responsibility.
Atiku further urged the government to critically examine the prevailing economic conditions that compel young Nigerians into hazardous and unregulated occupations. He linked the Minna tragedy to broader issues of poverty, unemployment, and the escalating cost of living, arguing that economic policies must ultimately be judged by their positive impact on ordinary citizens.
“Thirty-seven young Nigerians entered the custody of the state alive and did not return alive to their families. That tragedy demands truth, justice and accountability,” he reiterated.
The ADC chieftain also reaffirmed his proposal for a targeted production subsidy for locally refined petroleum products. This policy, he explained, aims to bolster domestic refining capabilities while simultaneously lowering petrol prices for consumers. While his proposal has faced scrutiny from the All Progressives Congress, which questioned its framework and compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act, Atiku maintained that his plan differs significantly from the previous open-ended subsidy on imported fuel.
“My promise to make life affordable again is not a political slogan. It is a solemn covenant with the Nigerian people. We will support what Nigeria produces. We will support fuel refined in Nigeria, create Nigerian jobs and insist that every naira of government support delivers a measurable benefit to the consumer,” he pledged.
He concluded by emphasizing the government’s responsibility to cultivate an environment where young Nigerians can pursue legitimate livelihoods, thereby mitigating the necessity for them to engage in dangerous activities for economic survival. “The purpose of government is not merely to announce reforms. The purpose of government is to make life better for the people,” he concluded.