Suspended Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Aniviye, has expressed regret over the deaths of detainees held by the corps, admitting that the tragedy might have been avoided.
Aniviye described the incident as a “costly mistake” and apologised to the families of the deceased and the Niger State Government while appearing before a judicial commission investigating the deaths.
“A mistake has been made, but a very costly one. My apology to the parents of the deceased and to the people and government of Niger State,” he said.
The Justice Muhammad Muhammad Commission of Inquiry, sitting in Minna, is examining the circumstances surrounding the deaths of suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in September 2026.
Giving an account of the events preceding the incident, Aniviye said he became the state commandant on August 25, 2025, and held the position until September 18, 2026.
He explained that the operation originated from complaints by residents around the M. I. Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna, who alleged that mining activities were disturbing their community.
According to him, he inspected the affected location on September 15, 2026, and instructed the command’s Head of Operations, Assistant Commandant of Corps Joha Achagwa, to address the complaints.
The directive led to the deployment of the Mining Marshal Unit, which arrested suspected illegal miners during an operation conducted on the evening of September 16.
Aniviye said he learnt of the deaths the following day through a telephone call. He immediately proceeded to the command headquarters, where he found several bodies on the floor of a detention cell.
He told the inquiry that he contacted Governor Umaru Bago, who ordered that the bodies be moved to a hospital. The suspended commandant added that he also notified the commissioner of police and the director of the Department of State Services.
Aniviye further disclosed that the suspects were expected to appear in court on September 17, but the deaths occurred before the planned arraignment.
Questions about the handling of those arrested emerged during the testimony of Assistant Commandant of Corps Stephen Tsado, the suspended head of the NSCDC legal unit.
Tsado, who was responsible for preparing case files, forwarding matters for prosecution and advising the commandant on legal issues, said he identified some of the detainees as minors.
He told the commission that he recommended their release to their parents on bail and personally appealed to Aniviye to consider the advice.
“I advised him to grant them bail to their parents,” Tsado said.
The legal officer, however, said he did not know why the recommendation was not acted upon.
The inquiry also heard from Maryam Etang, a nurse attached to the NSCDC medical unit, who said she visited the detention facility during routine duties on September 16 and 17.
Etang recalled that one detainee was coughing severely on September 17, around the time the bodies were being taken out of the cell.
She also expressed surprise at finding the body of a man identified as Emeka Emmanuel among the deceased, claiming that he was not among those arrested during the mining operation.
Her account has raised questions about Emmanuel’s presence in the detention facility and the circumstances that led to his death.
The commission is investigating the treatment of the detainees, the conduct of the security operation and any possible failures in the management of those held in custody.