By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Justice Mohammed Mohammed Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the deaths of 37 suspected il...
The Justice Mohammed Mohammed Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has inspected a mining site in Lokoto community, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, to verify allegations of farmland destruction and threats by miners.
The inspection was conducted to obtain first-hand evidence to corroborate the testimony of a Lokoto community member, Sani Abubakar, who alleged that miners encroached on his farmland and threatened him while he was working there.
During the visit, the commission’s chairman, Justice Mohammed Mohammed, and other members inspected portions of the affected farmland and interacted with community members, who briefed them on the alleged destruction of farmland through illegal mining activities.
Abubakar had earlier told the commission that repeated incursions by miners onto his farmland prompted him to submit a written complaint to the NSCDC, seeking the corps’ intervention to protect his property.
He said that when he submitted the complaint, he was advised to have it typed at a computer centre.
Abubakar further alleged that he paid N100,000 to NSCDC operatives who visited his farmland to arrest the miners. According to him, the money was requested to cover fuel costs for the officers’ vehicle to reach the location.
The commission also inspected another mining site at M.I. Wushishi, as well as the detention facility at the NSCDC headquarters and the former headquarters of the Mining Marshal command, to assess their capacity and suitability.
At the detention facility where the 37 suspected miners were held before their deaths, the commission observed that the available space was inadequate for the number of suspects reportedly detained there.
According to observations made during the inspection, the facility was designed to accommodate between 28 and 30 suspects, but more than 66 detainees were reportedly held there at the time, raising concerns about overcrowding and inadequate ventilation.
The inspections form part of the commission’s investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the 37 suspected miners while in NSCDC custody.
The evidence gathered during the visits is expected to assist the commission in examining the allegations and establishing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
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