By Awwal Umar Kontagora At least nine people were reportedly shot on Thursday morning following a clash between officers of the Nigeria Se...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
At least nine people were reportedly shot on Thursday morning following a clash between officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and youths in Gada town, Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State.
The incident occurred during a raid on a mineral processing site, allegedly led by one Jibrin Mohammed, where several young miners were arrested on suspicion of working without authorization.
Eyewitnesses said the confrontation began when the officers attempted to leave the area with the arrested miners, prompting residents to block their movement. The situation escalated, leading the officers to open fire on the crowd. Nine people were hit by bullets — eight of whom were hospitalized, while one with minor injuries was treated at home.
A resident, who identified himself as Musa, told our correspondent that this was not the first such incident in the community. “This is the second time Civil Defence officers have entered Gada shooting. The first time, they raided the mineral processing plant owned by Alhaji Ibrahim Dealer, arrested seven workers, and confiscated equipment from a Sharon vehicle,” he said.
He added that the youths confronted the officers because they believed their mining activities were legal. “We are registered with the Niger State branch of the Miners’ Union and pay our taxes. The Civil Defence has no right to storm our town with guns and harass us,” he said.
The village head of Gada, Malam Ibrahim Tukura (Dagacin Gada), condemned the incident, describing it as an act of intimidation. “We woke up to gunfire; women and children fled into the forest. At first, we thought it was bandits, only to discover it was Civil Defence officers arresting our youths. This is the third time they have come in this manner,” he lamented.
He urged security agencies to adopt a more civil approach when dealing with communities. “Security forces should understand the tense situation in the country and avoid causing unnecessary panic,” he added.
Upon hearing of the roadblock mounted by angry youths, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Niger State reportedly visited Gada to calm tensions.
The secretary to the Dagacin Gada, Malam Yakubu Musa, confirmed that the police urged residents to remain law-abiding and promised to ensure peace. However, he demanded the immediate release of four detained youths. “We cannot tolerate this kind of oppression. Nine of our youths were shot — this is unacceptable,” he said.
Another resident, Mohammed Mohammed (Makaman Gada), said the confrontation was sparked by repeated harassment from officers guarding a mining company in nearby Katcha Local Government. “The same Civil Defence officer, Jibrin Mohammed, came here two weeks ago and seized equipment from Alhaji Ibrahim Dealer’s car. Today, he returned with more men, and the youths reacted,” he said.
He added that panic spread across the town as women and children fled, mistaking the raid for a bandit attack. “After the shooting, the youths blocked the road and burned tyres, demanding the release of those arrested. It was only after the Assistant Commissioner of Police intervened that the road was reopened, with assurances that the detained youths would be freed within two hours,” he added.
Alhaji Ibrahim Dealer, a local mining plant owner and chairman of the area’s Miners’ Union, said his company operates legally. “We are registered with the government and pay all necessary dues. Two weeks ago, Civil Defence officers led by Jibrin arrested seven of my workers and took away our equipment, which they still haven’t returned,” he alleged.
A veteran miner, Abdulhamid Alhaji Bala, who has worked in the sector for over 20 years, also criticised the officers’ conduct. “We are registered under the Niger State Labour and Mining Cooperative. These Civil Defence men are supposed to secure lives and property, not harass legitimate workers. They act as though they are private guards for the company in Katcha,” he said.
Residents accused the company of using security operatives to intimidate local miners, citing boundary disputes between Katcha and Bosso Local Government Areas.
Meanwhile, reliable sources confirmed that a joint security committee—comprising the Commissioner of Police, the NSCDC Commandant, and other relevant stakeholders—has been set up to investigate the incident and restore order in the area.
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