EXCLUSIVE: Survivor Identifies Ex-Military Ruler IBB As Alleged Owner Of Niger Gold Mine Where 37 Suspects Died In NSCDC Custody

EXCLUSIVE: Survivor Identifies Ex-Military Ruler IBB As Alleged Owner Of Niger Gold Mine Where 37 Suspects Died In NSCDC Custody

A survivor of the incident involving the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has reportedly identified former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, popularly known as IBB, as the alleged owner of the gold mining site where the suspects were arrested.

The allegation comes amid growing concerns over the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the suspects, who were reportedly arrested during an operation targeting illegal mining activities in parts of Niger State.

According to reports, the suspects were taken into NSCDC custody after security personnel carried out an operation at a gold mining site in the state. They were subsequently detained at an NSCDC facility in Minna.

However, 37 of the detainees were later found dead in custody, triggering questions about what happened to them while they were being held by the security agency.

A survivor reportedly told investigators that the mining site where the suspects were arrested belonged to IBB. The survivor’s account has, however, not been independently verified, and there is no confirmed official record establishing Babangida as the owner of the specific mining site involved in the incident.

The survivor also reportedly provided details about the conditions under which the suspects were detained after their arrest. According to the account, the detainees were held in an overcrowded cell with poor ventilation.

The survivor allegedly said the detainees complained about the conditions inside the facility, particularly the heat and lack of fresh air. The account has raised further questions about the conditions in which the suspects were held before their deaths.

There have also been allegations that an unidentified substance was sprayed inside the detention facility, after which some detainees reportedly began experiencing difficulties. The claim has not been independently established, while authorities have yet to confirm that any substance was responsible for the deaths.

The NSCDC initially said the deaths may have been linked to a suspected disease outbreak but stressed that the actual cause could only be established through medical examinations and other investigations.

Following the incident, authorities commenced investigations into the deaths. The NSCDC reportedly constituted an investigative panel to examine the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths of the suspects.

The Niger State Police Command also began its own investigation, while the bodies of the deceased were reportedly deposited at a hospital for autopsies and medical examinations to determine the actual cause of death.

The Federal Government has also taken administrative action over the incident, including the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant pending the outcome of investigations.

The incident has generated public concern over the treatment of detainees in security custody and the broader issue of illegal mining operations in Niger State.

For now, the allegation linking IBB to ownership of the mining site remains an unverified claim attributed to a survivor. The ongoing investigations and medical examinations are expected to establish the cause of the deaths and provide further details about what happened to the suspects before and after their arrest.

Street News Reporters will continue to monitor developments as authorities release further findings on the incident.