“My sons helped pay for my treatment” – Father demands compensation after custody deaths

A grieving father, Musa Aliyu, has demanded compensation for families of suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, saying the loss of his two sons has left his family devastated.

Aliyu, 50, said his sons, Ibrahim, 17, and Abubakar, 12, were among those who died in the incident, adding that the boys had been important sources of financial support for his medical treatment.

Aliyu, who has been battling an illness for about a year, said his sons left home on Wednesday for a mining site around the Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Housing Estate but did not return that evening.

“My wife was later informed that some miners had been arrested, so she went to the Civil Defence office near the PDP Secretariat,” Aliyu said.

He said his wife met several relatives at the office who were also searching for their children.

“She was informed that our children were dead and we were asked to go to the General Hospital to identify and claim their bodies,” he added.

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Aliyu said the deaths had compounded the difficulties facing his family, stressing that his sons regularly contributed money towards his medication.

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

While declining to directly accuse any individual, Aliyu said he believed his children had been killed and left the matter to God.

Another parent, Lawal Mohammad, said his 15-year-old son, Suleiman, was also among those who died.

Mohammad said he attempted to take food to his son after the miners were arrested but was denied access by NSCDC personnel.

“We went to the Civil Defence office on Wednesday night and were asked to return the following day,” he said.

“We went back on Thursday morning to give him food, but we were told that he was dead.”

Mohammad said he was at the NSCDC office when the bodies were brought out and taken away in ambulances.

“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 said.

He said his son had taken up artisanal mining to earn a living and contribute to the family’s upkeep.

The grieving father called on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths and ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable.

The demands come after the Federal Government constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 people held by the NSCDC in Niger State.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also announced the suspension of 20 NSCDC officers, in addition to the Niger State Commandant, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrests, detention and the causes and circumstances of their deaths, as well as determine responsibility, negligence or misconduct where established.

The families of the deceased are now awaiting the outcome of the investigation while demanding justice, accountability and compensation for their losses.

(Leadership)