, Suberu Aniviye, has formally apologized to the families of 37 artisanal miners who died in paramilitary custody){kind=link}
The suspended Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Aniviye, has formally apologised to the families of 37 artisanal miners who died in paramilitary custody, admitting that the mass casualty incident was an “avoidable, costly mistake.”
Testifying in Minna before the Judicial Panel of Inquiry led by Justice Mohammed Mohammed, Aniviye expressed remorse over the tragedy that occurred inside an overcrowded holding cell following enforcement raids in the M.I. Wushishi Estate and Lukoto areas of the state capital in mid-September.
His public apology came as the panel heard startling testimony from the suspended head of the NSCDC Niger State Legal Unit, Stephen Tsado, who disclosed that he had explicitly advised the commandant to grant bail and release underage suspects to their parents prior to the fatal incident, but his advice was disregarded.
“The incident was a costly mistake during my tenure, and the deaths could have been avoided,” Aniviye told the judicial panel. “I sincerely offer my unreserved apologies to the families of the victims and the people of Niger State over this unfortunate tragedy.”
“I Advised Him to Release the Minors” — Legal Unit Head
The judicial inquiry, constituted to investigate the circumstances surrounding the September deaths, heard detailed testimonies from top officers within the suspended command structure.
Stephen Tsado, the suspended head of the command’s legal division, testified that legal officers had reviewed the cases of several younger suspects rounded up during the joint operations and recommended their immediate administrative release on bail.
“I personally advised the commandant to release the underage suspects among those arrested to their parents on bail,” Tsado testified before the commission. “However, that legal advice was not heeded before the tragic incident occurred inside the cell.”
The panel also reviewed details regarding the initial enforcement operations, which were conducted following complaints from local residents regarding informal gold mining activity encroaching on residential layouts in Minna.
Federal Relief Fund and Nationwide Fallout
The testimony comes weeks after Vice President Kashim Shettima led a federal government delegation to Minna to condole with the families of the deceased and the Niger State Government, announcing a ₦250 million federal relief intervention to support the bereaved households.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had earlier suspended Aniviye alongside 21 senior officers—including heads of operations, intelligence, and legal units—pending the outcome of criminal and administrative panels investigating allegations of gross negligence, severe cell overcrowding, and inhumane treatment.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu subsequently ordered a full, unsparing prosecution of any security officer found culpable in the deaths, reiterating that the sanctity of human life remains non-negotiable under Nigerian law.
As the Justice Mohammed-led panel continues its public sittings at the High Court Complex in Minna, grieving relatives and civil rights advocacy groups maintain calls for full criminal indictments against responsible officers, insisting that administrative apologies must be followed by judicial accountability.
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