By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Bello Magaji, has accused operatives of the ...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Bello Magaji, has accused operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) of unprofessional conduct and exceeding their statutory mandate in their operations.
Magaji made the allegation while testifying before the nine-member judicial commission of inquiry, headed by Justice Mohammed Mohammed, investigating the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in NSCDC custody.
He called on the corps to retrain its personnel and ensure strict compliance with the law establishing the organisation, describing revelations from survivors and other accounts presented before the state committee investigating the incident as embarrassing.
“The manner in which the NSCDC carried out its operations, according to the information we received, could best be described as unprofessional. They need to be called to order,” he told the commission.
Magaji, who also serves as secretary of the Niger State committee investigating the incident, said the corps must operate within its statutory mandate and uphold professional standards in carrying out its security responsibilities.
He disclosed that he received a telephone call from the suspended Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Siaka Zubeiru Aniriveye, on September 17, 2026, informing him of the deaths of the 37 suspected miners in the corps’ custody.
According to Magaji, he immediately informed Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who directed that the bodies be evacuated to a hospital.
He said the suspended commandant subsequently requested logistical assistance to transport the bodies, prompting him to contact the permanent secretary of his ministry to arrange funds for the evacuation.
Meanwhile, the Head of Civil Defence Operations, Deputy Commandant of Corps John Abraham, told the commission that 69 miners were arrested during an operation conducted on the instructions of the suspended commandant.
Abraham said the suspects were subsequently handed over to the Department of Intelligence and Investigation for further action.
The commission also heard testimonies from the Mokwa Area Commander, Assistant Commandant of Corps Adebayo Tajuddeen, and Assistant Superintendent of Corps Mamman Ibrahim regarding the arrest, investigation and detention of Emmanuel Emeka, who reportedly spent six days in detention before dying alongside the suspected illegal miners.
Their testimonies raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Emeka’s arrest and detention, alleged payments connected to his detention, a court warrant and the whereabouts of N1.4 million reportedly recovered in connection with an alleged N12 million financial dispute.
Wilfred Ugwu, Emeka’s employer, also testified before the commission, explaining their business relationship and alleging that the deceased had diverted business funds amounting to N12 million.
The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody, including the conduct of the corps’ personnel and the events leading to the suspects’ detention.
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