The Coalition of Civil Societies for Transparency and Accountability (COCSTA) has described the call for the removal of the Commandant-General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof Ahmed Abubakar Audi, over the deaths of suspected illegal miners in Niger State as misguided and an unnecessary distraction from ongoing investigations.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Bilal Galadima, the coalition sympathised with the families of the 37 persons who reportedly died while in NSCDC custody in Minna, Niger State, and urged stakeholders to allow the investigations ordered by the Federal Government to run their course.
The group was reacting to a reported call by a lawyer and human rights activist, Hamza N. Dantani, for the termination of Audi’s tenure.
According to the group, the NSCDC said the suspects were arrested during operations conducted on September 15 and 16, 2026, around the Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna.
The Corps spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, had reportedly said more than 50 persons were arrested and were yet to be charged as profiling and documentation were still ongoing when the deaths occurred.
The coalition noted that the Niger State Commandant had reportedly said he did not inform the Commandant-General about the arrests, arguing that it would therefore be premature to hold the Corps’ leadership responsible for an operational matter allegedly handled at the state level.
It also noted that the Federal Government had suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
COCSTA urged Dantani and other stakeholders to await the outcome of the investigations ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, saying anyone found culpable should face the law.
The group also questioned why similar calls for the removal of senior security officials were not made following other incidents involving civilian deaths.
It cited the December 2023 military drone strike in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State, as well as reported military airstrikes in parts of Zamfara, Sokoto and Borno states, and the killings recorded during the #EndSARS protests.
The coalition maintained that the NSCDC has an established command structure comprising state commandants, deputy commandant-generals, assistant commandant-generals and specialised units, including the Mining Marshals.
It therefore urged Nigerians and government agencies to remain calm and allow the probe committee to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“Whoever is found culpable should face the full wrath of the law,” the coalition said.
