Illegal miners have returned to the M.I. Wushishi mining site in Minna, Niger State, days after 37 suspected illegal miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Women, adults and underage persons were seen carrying out mining activities at the site on Saturday, despite the recent NSCDC operation and the reported deaths in custody.

The return of miners highlights the difficulty of stopping mining activities in an area where some workers depend on the trade for their livelihoods.

Key Takeaways

• Miners have returned to the M.I. Wushishi mining site in Minna after a recent NSCDC operation.
• The return came days after 37 suspected illegal miners reportedly died in NSCDC custody.
• The NSCDC said the suspects were arrested during operations on September 15 and 16.
• Miners told TheCable that staying away from the site affected their income because mining is their main source of livelihood.
• One miner said workers had formed close relationships over the years and had not established how many arrested miners were dead or alive.
• Another miner made allegations concerning a previous NSCDC raid, including claims of assault, a ₦120,000 bail payment and the shooting of a friend.
• The allegations against NSCDC officers were made by the miner and are not independently established in the supplied report.

What Happened At The M.I. Wushishi Mining Site?

The NSCDC had conducted operations around the Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna on September 15 and 16, during which suspected illegal miners were arrested.

The suspended NSCDC commandant in Niger State, Suberu Aniviye, said scores of detained suspects were found dead in the early hours of Thursday following what he described as a suspected outbreak of disease.

Despite the arrests and reported deaths, mining activities resumed at the site.

A visit to the location on Saturday found miners working with shovels, picks and other hand tools. Some were digging into exposed earth, while others filled sacks and pans with loose soil.

Some miners also used a nearby stream to separate materials from the excavated earth.

No security personnel were observed at the site during the visit described in the report.

How The Events Unfolded

The events surrounding the mining site developed over several days.

September 15 and 16: The NSCDC conducted operations around the Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate and arrested suspected illegal miners.

Following the operation: Some miners stayed away from the site because of the security operation.

Thursday: The suspended NSCDC commandant said scores of detained suspects were found dead in the early hours of the day following a suspected outbreak of disease.

Saturday: Miners, including women, adults and underage persons, were observed carrying out mining activities at the M.I. Wushishi site.

The supplied report does not provide further details establishing the circumstances surrounding each of the reported deaths.

Why Some Miners Returned

Some miners stayed away from the site after the NSCDC raid and the deaths in custody.

Others eventually returned because mining is an important source of income for them.

Salisu DanMallam, who said he had worked at the site for more than 15 years, said he did not return on Tuesday and Wednesday because of the NSCDC operation.

He said the decision to stay away affected his income because mining was his main source of livelihood.

“If you don’t come out for a day or two you will feel it because there are no profitable jobs,” DanMallam said.

His account illustrates the economic pressure facing miners who depend on the activity even after a major security operation.

Miner Says Workers Treat Each Other Like Family

DanMallam also described the relationships among miners at the site, saying those who worked there had developed close ties over the years.

“We just treat each other like family here,” he said.

He said he did not have direct blood relations among those who died in NSCDC custody.

However, DanMallam said he had not established how many of the miners arrested during the operation were dead or alive.

“I have not ascertained the number of people who are dead or alive. I know that some people were arrested but I haven’t seen them,” he said.

His comments reflect the uncertainty he said remained among miners following the arrests.

Miners Remain Concerned About Landslides

DanMallam also spoke about the way miners work at the site.

He said miners avoided digging too deeply because of the danger of landslides.

“Even if we dig, we don’t dig beyond our knee level. We don’t dig much because of landslide,” he said.

The statement was his account of how miners at the site manage the risks associated with digging.

The supplied report does not provide an independent assessment of the site’s geological or environmental safety conditions.

Another Miner Describes His Experience

Buhari Rabiu, a 26-year-old miner who said he had worked at the site for two years, described how miners left the area after receiving information that NSCDC officers were approaching.

According to Rabiu, one of the women at the site alerted them to the approaching officers.

“I was informed earlier that the officers were coming. One of the women informed us, and we left,” he said.

Rabiu said the miners later learned that civil defence officers were arresting people.

“Not long after we left, we heard that civil defence was arresting us,” he said.

Miner Alleges Previous NSCDC Assault

Rabiu also made allegations concerning a previous raid by NSCDC officers.

He alleged that he had been assaulted during an earlier operation targeting suspected illegal miners and said he was taken to a hospital for treatment after sustaining injuries.

According to his account, his parents later sought his release and NSCDC officers insisted that he receive medical treatment before he could be released.

“When my parents wanted to bail me, they insisted that NSCDC must treat me. They took me to the hospital to stitch my wounds,” Rabiu said.

Rabiu further alleged that ₦120,000 was collected as bail during the incident.

He also claimed that one of his friends was shot at close range by NSCDC officers during an encounter with miners.

The supplied report presents these claims as Rabiu’s allegations and does not provide an independent verification of them or a response from the NSCDC.

Mining And Livelihoods

The accounts from the miners show the economic importance of the site to some of those who work there.

DanMallam said mining was his main source of livelihood and that even a short period away from the site affected his income.

Rabiu also said mining had prevented him from continuing his previous work as a truck pusher in the market.

These accounts suggest that the return to the site is connected not only to the mining activity itself but also to the livelihoods of people who depend on it.

At the same time, the recent arrests and reported deaths have introduced another layer of uncertainty for miners working at the location.

Governance And Public Impact

The situation at the M.I. Wushishi site raises questions about the difficulty of enforcing restrictions on mining where workers depend on the activity for income.

The NSCDC operation resulted in arrests, while mining activities were observed again at the same location days later.

The accounts from miners also show different aspects of the situation: the economic consequences of staying away, uncertainty over arrested miners and concerns about physical safety at the site.

The supplied report, however, does not provide enough information to independently assess the overall effectiveness of the NSCDC operation or determine the broader legal and regulatory status of the mining activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did miners return to the M.I. Wushishi mining site?

Some miners returned because they depend on mining for their livelihoods. One miner, Salisu DanMallam, said staying away from the site affected his income.

What happened during the NSCDC operation?

The NSCDC said suspected illegal miners were arrested during operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around the Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.

What is known about the 37 deaths?

The article reports that 37 suspected illegal miners died while in NSCDC custody. The suspended Niger State NSCDC commandant, Suberu Aniviye, said scores of detained suspects were found dead following a suspected outbreak of disease.

The supplied report does not provide further details establishing the circumstances surrounding each death.

Who are the miners interviewed in the report?

The report identifies Salisu DanMallam, who said he had worked at the site for more than 15 years, and Buhari Rabiu, a 26-year-old miner who said he had worked there for two years.

What did DanMallam say about the deaths?

DanMallam said he had not established how many miners were dead or alive following the arrests and that he had not seen some of those who were arrested.

What allegations did Rabiu make about NSCDC officers?

Rabiu alleged that NSCDC officers assaulted him during a previous raid, took him to hospital for treatment and that ₦120,000 was collected as bail. He also alleged that a friend was shot during an encounter with miners.

These claims are attributed to Rabiu and are not independently established in the supplied report.

Were security personnel present when the mining site was visited?

The report says no security personnel were present at the M.I. Wushishi mining site during the Saturday visit.

Miners Return Despite Recent NSCDC Operation

The return of miners to the M.I. Wushishi site shows the continued activity at the location despite the recent NSCDC operation and the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody.

For the miners interviewed, livelihood remains an important factor in returning to the site. At the same time, their accounts describe uncertainty following the arrests, concerns about mining-related dangers and allegations arising from previous encounters with security personnel.

The supplied report establishes the miners’ return and their accounts, but it does not independently resolve the allegations made against NSCDC officers or provide further verification of the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths.