Mining Marshals Commander Denies Involvement in Niger Deaths

On October 16, 2026, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja Attah, the Commander of the Mining Marshals, denied allegations that personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) participated in a September 16 operation at M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate in Minna, Niger State, where deaths are currently under investigation.

This denial contradicts claims made by the suspended Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, who stated he deployed Mining Marshals personnel to the area after visiting a mining site on September 15. Attah asserted that no Mining Marshals were attached to the Niger State Command or any state command of the Corps, emphasizing that the unit operates under the command of the Commandant-General from the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja.

He stated that he became aware of the operation only after reports of the deaths emerged and that operational records confirm no involvement of Mining Marshals personnel. The conflicting statements have prompted an inquiry led by Justice Mohammed Mohammed to investigate the incident.