The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has released the identities of suspected illegal miners who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The names were reportedly obtained from records at General Hospital, Minna, while additional names were supplied to the commission by relatives of people reported missing following the arrests.
The victims were among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested during NSCDC operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around the Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna, the Niger State capital.
Key Facts
- The IHRC said it obtained an initial list of victims from records at General Hospital, Minna.
- The organisation said four additional names were later supplied by relatives who approached the commission.
- The names relate to suspected illegal miners arrested during NSCDC operations on September 15 and 16.
- The IHRC said the list would help facilitate compensation for families of those who died.
- The supplied article refers to 37 victims, but the list reproduced below contains 36 names. No additional name has been added because the source provided does not identify a 37th name.
How The Names Emerged
The identities emerged after the IHRC obtained what it described as an initial list from General Hospital, Minna.
Speaking to TheCable on Sunday, Awaisu Giwa, an international peace ambassador at the IHRC, said the organisation obtained the initial names from hospital records.
According to Giwa, the list was written by a mortuary attendant on the instruction of the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD).
He said four additional names were later supplied after relatives of people who were missing approached the commission.
What The IHRC Said About The List
Giwa said the commission intended to return to the hospital to have the list placed on the hospital’s official letterhead.
“We got the list from the CMD of the general hospital. It was written by the mortuary attendant for us, but we are going to the hospital tomorrow for the list to be on the official letterhead of the hospital.”
He added that relatives of missing persons had begun contacting the commission.
“The CMD was the one who instructed the mortuary attendant to give us the names. Some people whose relatives were missing are beginning to report in our office.”
The statements mean the supplied report attributes the list to information obtained by the IHRC, while the article also indicates that the organisation was seeking further official documentation from the hospital.
Full List Of Names
The names reproduced in the supplied article are:
- Ibrahim Sani
- Fahad Sa’adu
- Usman Aliyu
- Abubakar Alhaji
- Sani Nasir
- Sanusi Khalid
- Ahmad Aliyu
- Safiyanu Abdullahi
- Suleiman Dantala
- Idris Haruna
- Sani Yakubu
- Safiyanu Abubakar
- Abdullahi Abubakar
- Abubakar Musa
- Abdul Mudassir
- Suleiman Lawal
- Usman Abdullahi
- Samuel Sambo
- Ibrahim Musa
- Yusuf Nasiru
- Umar Lawal
- Isyaku Amisu
- Bissallah Adamu
- Abdulbari Suleiman
- Shafisu Lado
- Usman Ahmad
- Usman Ibrahim
- Sani Isyaku
- Musa Ibrahim
- Idris Bashir
- Kabiru Suleiman
- Emmanuel Emeka
Additional Names Reportedly Supplied By Relatives
The source separately identifies the following four names as not included in the General Hospital list:
- Mu’awiya AbdulKarim
- Abdul Gafar Abubakar
- Usman Haruna
- Yaro Salihu Soba
A Note On The Number Of Names
The supplied report refers to 37 victims and describes the additional four names as being added to the initial hospital list.
However, the actual names reproduced in the supplied article total 36: 32 names in the main list and four additional names.
Because the source does not provide the missing 37th name, it would be inappropriate to create or assume another identity.
The hospital was also yet to be presented in the supplied report as having issued the list on its official letterhead. Therefore, the names should be understood in the context of the IHRC’s account as reported in the source.
Why The List Matters To Families
Giwa said the IHRC intends to use the list to facilitate compensation for families of those who died in the incident.
The identification of people reported missing can also provide relatives with information about the status of their family members.
However, the supplied report does not establish that any compensation has already been approved or paid.
What Happened Before The Names Emerged?
The victims were reportedly among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested during NSCDC operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around the Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.
The emergence of the names follows the deaths of suspected miners who had been held in NSCDC custody.
The supplied report does not provide individual circumstances surrounding the death of each person named on the list.
Who Are The Key Institutions Involved?
International Human Rights Commission
The IHRC is the organisation that, according to the report, obtained and released the names.
General Hospital, Minna
The hospital is identified by the IHRC as the source of the initial list, although the supplied report says the commission was seeking to have the information placed on official hospital letterhead.
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
The NSCDC conducted the operations during which the suspected illegal miners were arrested.
Families Of The Victims
Relatives of people reported missing subsequently approached the IHRC, with four additional names being supplied according to Giwa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who released the names of the suspected miners?
The names were released by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC), according to the supplied report.
Where did the initial list come from?
The IHRC said it obtained the initial list from records at General Hospital, Minna.
Who provided the list to the IHRC?
According to Awaisu Giwa, the list was written by a mortuary attendant on the instruction of the hospital’s Chief Medical Director.
Were all the names on the General Hospital list?
No. The source separately identifies four names as not being included in the General Hospital list. They were reportedly supplied after relatives approached the IHRC.
Why is the IHRC compiling the names?
Giwa said the list would be used to facilitate compensation for families of those who died.
How many names are actually reproduced in the supplied article?
The supplied article contains 36 names, although it refers to 37 victims.
Is the missing 37th name known?
The supplied material does not identify a 37th name, so no additional identity can be provided without another source.
Has General Hospital officially confirmed all the names?
The supplied article says the IHRC intended to return to the hospital so the list could be placed on the hospital’s official letterhead. It does not provide that subsequent official confirmation.
When were the suspected miners arrested?
The source says they were among suspects arrested during NSCDC operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around the Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.
Key Takeaways
- The IHRC has released names it says belong to suspected illegal miners who died in NSCDC custody in Niger State.
- The initial list was reportedly obtained from records at General Hospital, Minna.
- Four additional names were reportedly supplied by relatives of missing persons.
- The IHRC said the information would help facilitate compensation for affected families.
- The supplied article refers to 37 victims, but only 36 names are actually reproduced in the material provided.
- The missing 37th identity has not been supplied and should not be inferred or invented.
- The supplied report also indicates that the IHRC was seeking further documentation from General Hospital.
What The Emergence Of The Names Means
The release of the names provides identities for people the IHRC says were among the suspected illegal miners who died in NSCDC custody.
It also gives relatives a basis for following up on people reported missing after the arrests and, according to the IHRC, could support efforts to facilitate compensation.
However, the supplied report does not independently establish the circumstances surrounding each death or provide official hospital documentation confirming the complete list.
For that reason, the names in this report are presented according to the IHRC’s account and the source material supplied, while the discrepancy between the reported figure of 37 victims and the 36 names reproduced remains unresolved.
