Parents of artisanal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, have demanded compensation for their families.

The bereaved parents said compensation would help provide justice for the deceased and serve as a warning against abuse of power by law enforcement personnel.

The demand comes as families continue to seek answers over the circumstances surrounding the deaths of their children.

Key Takeaways

• Parents of artisanal miners who died in NSCDC custody in Minna are demanding compensation for their families.
• Musa Aliyu said he lost his two sons, Ibrahim, 17, and Abubakar, 12, in the incident.
• Aliyu said his children contributed financially to his medical treatment and were an important source of support for the family.
• Another parent, Lawal Mohammad, said his 15-year-old son, Suleiman, also died after being arrested.
• The parents are calling for a thorough investigation into the deaths and for anyone found responsible to be held accountable.
• The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain subject to investigation, based on the accounts contained in the report.

Why the Families Are Demanding Compensation

The parents say the deaths have left their families facing both emotional loss and the loss of children who contributed to household needs.

They argued that compensation would provide some form of redress for the families while also sending a warning against the alleged abuse of authority by law enforcement personnel.

For the bereaved families, the financial consequences are particularly significant because some of the deceased children were contributing to household expenses and supporting their relatives.

The Household Cost of the Losses

The account of Musa Aliyu illustrates the financial impact the deaths have had on one family.

Aliyu, 50, said he lost his two sons, Ibrahim, 17, and Abubakar, 12.

He told journalists that he had been battling illness for about a year and that his sons were a major source of support, particularly in helping him obtain money for medication.

“These children helped me sustain my medication. They contributed money to buy drugs for me.”

The loss, according to Aliyu’s account, therefore went beyond the death of his children. He also lost members of his household who had been helping him meet his medical needs.

How the Children Supported Their Families

The report also gives an account of Lawal Mohammad, who said his 15-year-old son, Suleiman, died in the incident.

Mohammad said his son had taken up artisanal mining to earn a living and support the family.

The account highlights the livelihood dimension surrounding the deaths, with artisanal mining described by the bereaved parent as a means through which his son contributed to the family’s needs.

The source material does not provide figures showing how much income the children generated or the wider financial contribution of artisanal mining to the affected households. The economic impact can therefore be established from the parents’ individual accounts, but not quantified beyond them.

What the Parents Say Happened

Aliyu said his two sons left home peacefully on Wednesday for a mining site at Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Housing Estate but did not return that evening.

He said his wife later heard that some miners had been arrested and went to the Civil Defence office near the PDP Secretariat to look for the children.

According to Aliyu, his wife found other relatives at the office who were also searching for their children.

He said she was subsequently informed that the children were dead and that the family should go to the General Hospital to identify and claim their bodies.

Mohammad gave a separate account involving his son, Suleiman.

He said he attempted to take food to his son on the day of the arrest but was denied access by NSCDC personnel.

Mohammad said he and others went to the Civil Defence office on Wednesday night and were told to return the following day.

When they returned on Thursday morning with food, he said they were informed that his son had died.

Mohammad also said he was present at the Civil Defence office when the bodies were brought out and loaded into ambulances.

These accounts are the statements of the bereaved parents as reported and do not, by themselves, establish the circumstances or cause of the deaths.

Families Demand Investigation and Compensation

Mohammad said those responsible should be made to pay compensation to the families, arguing that such action would serve as a lesson to others who abuse their authority.

“I am in pain, and I cannot forgive this. Those responsible should be made to pay compensation so as to serve as a lesson to others who abuse power.”

He also called for the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Aliyu, meanwhile, said he had left whoever was responsible for the death of his children to Allah.

“I leave whoever is responsible for the death of my children to Allah. I believe they were killed.”

His statement represents his personal belief about what happened and should not be treated as an established finding of responsibility.

What Is Known — And What Remains to Be Established

The accounts provided by the bereaved parents establish that they lost their children in the incident and that the families are demanding compensation and an investigation.

The report also establishes that the deceased children were involved in artisanal mining and that at least some of them were described by their parents as contributors to their families’ livelihoods.

However, the source material does not independently establish the precise circumstances or cause of each death, nor does it identify any person as legally responsible.

Those questions would require findings from the relevant authorities or an investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the parents demanding compensation?

The parents say compensation would provide justice or redress for the families of the deceased and serve as a warning against abuse of power by law enforcement personnel.

Who is Musa Aliyu?

Musa Aliyu is a 50-year-old parent who said he lost his two sons, Ibrahim, 17, and Abubakar, 12, in the incident.

How did Aliyu’s children support him?

Aliyu said his children contributed money towards his medication while he was dealing with an illness and were a major source of support for him.

Who was Lawal Mohammad’s son?

Mohammad said his 15-year-old son, Suleiman, died in the incident after being arrested.

What did Mohammad say about his son’s livelihood?

He said his son engaged in artisanal mining to earn a living and support the family.

What are the parents asking authorities to do?

They are calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and for anyone found responsible to be held accountable.

Has compensation been awarded to the families?

The source material only reports the parents’ demand for compensation. It does not state that any compensation has been approved or awarded.

Has responsibility for the deaths been established?

The supplied report does not establish who was responsible for the deaths or provide a final finding on the circumstances surrounding them.

What Happens Next?

The families are calling for the circumstances surrounding the deaths to be thoroughly investigated.

The outcome of any investigation would be important in determining what happened, whether anyone should be held responsible and whether the families’ demand for compensation will be addressed.

For the bereaved parents, the issue extends beyond the loss of their children. Their accounts show that some of the deceased were also contributing to household livelihoods, making the tragedy both a personal loss and a loss of family support.

The Bottom Line

The parents’ compensation demand is rooted in both grief and the financial consequences of losing children who contributed to their households.

While the families are seeking justice and accountability, the available account does not establish a final finding on the circumstances or responsibility for the deaths. Any such determination would have to come from the relevant investigation.