Atiku Abubakar Donates ₦20 Million to Miners' Families

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, donated ₦20 million to the families of 37 suspected artisanal miners who died while in custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State. The miners were arrested during operations on September 15 and 16, leading to public outrage and the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC commandant, along with an investigation into the incident.

During his visit to Minna, Atiku met with families and survivors, expressing his distress over the conditions faced by the detainees, including accounts of extreme overcrowding and desperation. He called for an investigation not only into the deaths but also into the economic factors driving young Nigerians into precarious livelihoods.

Atiku urged the Federal Government to evaluate its economic policies, stating that rising living costs compel families to take extraordinary risks for survival.