Niger deaths: Mining official accuses suspended NSCDC commandant, commissioner of illegal operations

The North Central Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office, Engr. Henry Temidayo Bolawale, has accused the suspended Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and the authorities Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Mohammed Qasim Danjuma, of allegedly conducting unauthorised operations astatine mining sites.

Bolawale made the allegations portion testifying earlier the nine-member Commission of Inquiry investigating the deaths of suspected amerciable miners successful NSCDC custody successful Niger State.

He alleged that the NSCDC Mining Marshals continued to apprehension miners and prehend mineral resources contempt a directive by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, for the portion to retreat from mining-site enforcement operations.

According to Bolawale, the curate had repeatedly directed the NSCDC Commandant-General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to retreat the Mining Marshals from specified operations, insisting that the portion was lone authorised to run done the corps' nationalist headquarters.

He told the commission, chaired by Justice Mohammed Mohammed, that the suspended commandant and the caput of the Mining Marshals successful Niger State had continued operating astatine mining locations without notifying oregon involving his office.

Bolawale said that upon assuming work successful Niger State, helium paid courtesy visits to information agencies, including the authorities NSCDC command, to question their practice successful tackling amerciable mining and san...