Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has donated N20m to the families of 37 artisanal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State.
Atiku made the donation during a visit to Minna on Tuesday, where he met affected families and survivors and paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Bahago.
The 37 detainees died on September 17, days after they were arrested during NSCDC operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State. The cause of the deaths has not been conclusively established, with investigations and medical examinations ongoing.
The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths and determine what led to the incident. Twenty NSCDC officers, including the Niger State Commandant, have also been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Niger State Government has separately established a judicial commission of inquiry to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including questions of responsibility and accountability.
Speaking with the families and survivors, Atiku described the incident as a tragedy requiring truth, justice and accountability. He said an account given by one survivor about the conditions in which detainees were held 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 detainees were entitled to humane treatment and protection under the law irrespective of the allegations against them.
“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 added.
He also linked the incident to wider economic challenges, including poverty, unemployment and the rising cost of living, and argued that government policies should be assessed by their effect on ordinary Nigerians.
“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 added.
Atiku also restated his proposal for a targeted production subsidy on petroleum products refined in Nigeria, saying it would support domestic refining and reduce fuel costs for consumers. The proposal has drawn criticism from the All Progressives Congress over its legal, fiscal and operational implications.
“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 added.
The deaths have generated public concern, with authorities continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The Federal Government’s independent committee has been given two weeks to complete its work and submit its report.
