Mining Marshals Reject Claims of Involvement in Niger Deaths

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals, led by Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja Attah, denied any involvement in the operation at M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna, Niger State, where deaths occurred on September 16.

Attah stated that the suspended Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, misrepresented the command structure and operational jurisdiction of the Mining Marshals by claiming he deployed personnel to the area. Attah emphasized that no Mining Marshals are attached to state commands and that operations are directed from the national headquarters.

He noted that the Commandant-General had publicly stated that the Mining Marshals were not involved in the incident. Attah confirmed that the unit's records show no personnel participated in the operation and warned against associating the Mining Marshals with the custodial deaths currently under investigation.

He defended the unit's conduct, stating it has adhered to the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, with no record of human rights violations.