Niger State Governor Umaru Bago has called on the Presidency or the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to issue an executive order banning mining activities in areas identified as problematic across the state.
Bago made the call during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme on Sunday, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The governor said stronger Federal Government intervention was needed because of limitations surrounding the enforcement of mining regulations.
According to him, decisive action is required to stop illegal mining and prevent children from being drawn into the activity.
“We need decisive action. We need an executive order from the Presidency or from the Ministry of Mineral Resources to ban mining in certain locations where we have seen they are problematic. Once that is done, it can be enforced,” he said.
Bago also explained that his powers as a state governor were limited when it came to directing federal security agencies.
“I am in between the devil and the Red Sea because, as a governor, yes, it’s in my state. As a governor, I cannot just go and order the police or military to start shooting people or arresting people. As a governor, I can only make advocacy.”
Bago raises concern over children in mining
The governor described illegal mining as a major challenge in Niger State, particularly because children were increasingly being drawn into artisanal mining instead of attending school.
“We know that gold mining in Niger State has become habitual. The UNICEF report says by 2027 there will not be a single child in Grade 7, that is JSS1, because all of them are into artisanal mining, and all of them have left the classroom and they are not in schools. And this is a problem for us,” he said.
Bago also said the state government was not informed about the arrests of the suspected miners before their deaths.
He questioned the extent of his administration’s control over federal security agencies and detention facilities.
“I am just chief security of the state by mouth,” he said, adding, “I cannot take an oath for what I cannot control.”
The governor said the Department of State Services and police were investigating the deaths, while noting that the state government had limited control over detention centres.
“We don’t have much control over detention centres,” he said.
Bago also recalled seeing the bodies of the deceased after the incident.
“I saw a lot of corpses on the floor,” he said, adding that some of the victims were not miners.
He said the location where the suspects were arrested was not licensed for mining and was actually a housing estate.
NSCDC parades suspended commandant, officers
Bago’s comments came as the NSCDC paraded its suspended Niger State Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, and other officers linked to the deaths.
The officers were paraded at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Sauka, Abuja, as the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, presented preliminary findings.
The 37 detainees died on September 17 after being arrested during anti-illegal mining operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16.
Bago had earlier said 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners were detained at an NSCDC facility before 37 died.
The exact cause of the deaths remains under investigation. The NSCDC initially cited a suspected disease outbreak, while authorities have said medical and forensic investigations are required to establish what happened.
FG suspends 21 NSCDC officers
The Federal Government has suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and 20 other officers pending the outcome of an independent investigation.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo also constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the identities of the deceased, their arrest and detention, and the cause and circumstances of their deaths. The committee has two weeks to submit its report.
The investigation followed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered probe into the incident.
The Nigeria Police Force has also said it is investigating the deaths, with the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, saying police had secured the scene to preserve evidence.
Meanwhile, the incident triggered protests in Minna, with authorities imposing a curfew after clashes between protesters and security personnel.
Bago said his administration would continue seeking answers over the deaths while pursuing measures to address illegal mining across Niger State.
