By Kazeem Waris
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the reported deaths of suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Corps in Minna.
The minister also directed the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Prof Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to conduct a full-scale, transparent and unhindered investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Friday after suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16 were taken into custody.
Tunji-Ojo announced the suspension in a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Alao Babatunde.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, the minister said the suspended commandant would remain out of office pending the outcome of the investigation.
He said: “It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full scale investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended.”
Tunji-Ojo added: “We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this.”
He urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding to allow for a transparent investigation, while commiserating with the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the families and relatives of the deceased.
In a separate press statement yesterday morning, the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, ACC Babawale Afolabi, said the Commandant-General had acted on the minister’s directive by ordering Aniviye to step aside with immediate effect.
Afolabi said the Niger State commandant had been directed to report immediately to the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja, alongside the Heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence and Investigation, to appear before a constituted panel of inquiry.
The Corps also directed a new commandant to proceed to Niger State and assume immediate command of the state command.
According to the NSCDC spokesman, the investigation would examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the Corps’ Niger State Command.
He said the Corps would leave no stone unturned in establishing what transpired, adding that any officer or personnel found to have acted contrary to the law, established procedures or professional standards would face appropriate sanctions.
Such sanctions, he said, could include administrative or disciplinary measures and, where applicable, criminal prosecution in accordance with extant laws and regulations.
The NSCDC reiterated its commitment to protecting the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of persons in its custody.
It, however, said enforcement of its statutory mandate, including the fight against illegal mining and protection of critical national assets, would continue to be carried out in accordance with the law and established professional standards.
