Yemi Obafemi
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has donated N20 million to families of the 37 suspected artisanal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
Atiku made the donation during a visit to Minna on Tuesday, where he met with families and survivors of the incident. He also paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, and visited former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd.).
The 37 detainees died on September 17, days after they were arrested during NSCDC operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State. The circumstances surrounding their deaths remain under investigation. (Punch Newspapers)
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the incident showed the difficult conditions faced by young Nigerians seeking ways to survive amid economic hardship.
He said one survivor gave a disturbing account of the conditions at the detention facility.
“It was a gory tale listening to one of the survivors. He told us that more than 68 of them were crammed into one small detention facility and that conditions became so desperate that they had to drink one another’s urine just to stay hydrated.”
Atiku said those held by the state were entitled to their lives, dignity and protection under the law, regardless of the allegations against them.
“Thirty-seven young Nigerians entered the custody of the state alive and did not return alive to their families. That tragedy demands truth, justice and accountability,” he said.
He also linked the incident to wider concerns over poverty, unemployment and the rising cost of living, saying the government needed to address the conditions pushing young people towards dangerous livelihoods.
Atiku said Nigeria must invest in young people by providing education, skills, jobs and opportunities for legitimate and productive work.
He also reiterated his proposal for a targeted production subsidy for petroleum products refined in Nigeria if elected president, saying it would support domestic refining and reduce costs for consumers.
“My promise to make life affordable again is not a political slogan. It is a solemn covenant with the Nigerian people,” he said.
“We will support what Nigeria produces. We will support fuel refined in Nigeria, create Nigerian jobs and insist that every naira of government support delivers a measurable benefit to the consumer.”
