TD Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has donated ₦20 million to families of the 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu,
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), made the donation on Tuesday during a visit to Minna.
He also paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, and visited former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.) while at it.
The former vice president met with families and survivors of the September 17 deaths.
The deaths occurred after the victims were arrested during NSCDC operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State.
The deaths have triggered public outrage and official investigations.
The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Government has also suspended 20 NSCDC officers, including the Niger State commandant, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Atiku demands truth and accountability
Atiku described the deaths as a painful reminder of the vulnerability of young Nigerians struggling to survive amid economic hardship.
He said hearing the account of one of the survivors was particularly disturbing.
“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.”
Atiku said no Nigerian should be subjected to such conditions while in government custody.
“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.”
Reports have also quoted survivors describing severe overcrowding and difficulty breathing inside the detention facility.
However, the precise cause of the deaths remains under investigation.
The NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, while subsequent accounts raised questions about the conditions in which the detainees were held.
‘Why are young Nigerians taking dangerous risks?’
Atiku said the tragedy should prompt the government to address the economic conditions that push young Nigerians into hazardous and poorly regulated occupations.
“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,” Atiku stressed.
He added that the concerned authorities should determine what happened inside the detention facility.
Beyond that, they should examine why so many young people were taking dangerous risks to earn a living.
According to Atiku, persistent poverty, unemployment and rising living costs have created circumstances in which many Nigerians are compelled to accept increasingly precarious means of survival.
“Economic reform must ultimately be measured by what it does to the lives of ordinary people,” he said.
He argued that government should reconsider policies that make basic necessities increasingly difficult for households to afford.
Atiku restates plan to reduce living costs
The former vice president also used the visit to reiterate his economic proposals.
The proposals include a plan to reduce the cost of living through targeted support for petroleum products refined domestically.
Rather than returning to an open-ended subsidy regime on imported fuel, Atiku said his proposed approach would support domestic refining while linking government intervention to measurable reductions in consumer prices.
He stated: “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 described his promise to make life more affordable as a commitment to Nigerians rather than merely a campaign slogan.
“The purpose of government is not merely to announce reforms.
“The purpose of government is to make life better for the people,” he noted.
Investigation into 37 deaths continues
The 37 victims were among scores of people arrested during anti-illegal-mining operations conducted on September 15 and 16.
The deaths occurred two days later while the suspects were in NSCDC custody in Minna.
Niger State Governor Umar Bago confirmed the deaths and announced three days of mourning.
The state and federal authorities subsequently initiated investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Niger State Police Command has also taken over the scene and commenced forensic investigations.
Meanwhile, the federal government’s independent committee has been given two weeks to complete its work and submit its report.
The controversy surrounding the deaths has consequently moved beyond the immediate circumstances of the detention facility.
It courts broader questions about the treatment of suspects in custody, enforcement of illegal-mining laws and the economic pressures confronting young Nigerians.
Atiku said the country must create an economy that gives young people access to education, skills, jobs and legitimate opportunities.
He decried an economy in which survival increasingly depends on dangerous and uncertain livelihoods.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain subject to official investigation.
The findings of the independent committee are expected to provide further clarification on what caused the fatalities and whether any officials should be held responsible.
