Parents of artisanal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, on Friday September 18, called for compensation for the bereaved families and a thorough investigation into the incident.
One of the parents, Musa Aliyu, said he lost two sons, Ibrahim, 17, and Abubakar, 12. He said the children left home for a mining site at Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Housing Estate but did not return, before the family was later informed that they had died.
Aliyu said his sons had been supporting him financially, particularly with the purchase of medication, as he had been ill for about a year. He called for those responsible for their deaths to be identified and held accountable.
Another parent, Lawal Mohammad, said his 15-year-old son, Suleiman, was among those who died. He alleged that NSCDC personnel denied him access when he attempted to take food to his son after the arrest.
Mohammad urged the authorities to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ensure that anyone found responsible faces appropriate consequences. The parents said compensation would help the affected families and serve as a deterrent against abuse of power by law enforcement personnel.
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