Niger Gold Mine Scandal: IBB Breaks Silence, Rejects Ownership Claim

Niger Gold Mine Scandal: IBB Breaks Silence, Rejects Ownership Claim

Former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd.), has denied any connection with the gold-mining site in Niger State where dozens of suspected illegal miners were arrested before 37 of them died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Babangida’s denial came after a survivor of the incident allegedly identified the former military ruler as the owner of the mining site where the miners were arrested.

The allegation has added a fresh dimension to the controversy surrounding the deaths, which have already triggered investigations by federal and state authorities.

The survivor, identified as Malam Babawo Tudun Nasera, reportedly made the claim while recounting the arrest and death of his 17-year-old brother, Salim, who was among those detained by NSCDC personnel.

According to reports, Nasera said the miners were ordered to stop working at the site by security personnel but that the owner had allegedly directed them to continue mining.

When asked who owned the site, the survivor reportedly answered that it belonged to Babangida and later clarified that he was referring to the former military Head of State. He also alleged that Babangida had instructed the miners to continue their activities.

However, the ownership allegation has not been independently established.

Reacting to the report, Babangida, through his representative, Dr Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, strongly denied any involvement with the mining operation.

Abdulhameed described the allegation as “false, baseless and completely without foundation,” insisting that Babangida had no connection whatsoever with the mining site.

He demanded that the impression created by the report be corrected and urged members of the public to disregard the allegation.

The representative’s statement came after the survivor’s account was published, with the report itself noting that the ownership claim could not independently be verified. It was also unclear whether the survivor’s reference to Babangida concerned ownership of the mining operation, a mining lease, the land or another form of connection.

The ownership controversy comes against the backdrop of a major security and human-rights controversy in Niger State, following the deaths of suspected miners in NSCDC custody.

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At least 37 suspected illegal miners died while in NSCDC custody after they were arrested during enforcement operations around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, confirmed the deaths and disclosed that 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners had been detained in an NSCDC cell before 37 died.

The governor said the actual cause of death had not been established, stressing that medical, forensic and autopsy examinations were required before any definitive conclusion could be reached.

The NSCDC initially linked the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak. However, other accounts have raised concerns about the conditions under which the suspects were detained.

Reports have cited allegations of overcrowding and poor ventilation, while authorities have also considered possible exposure to hazardous substances associated with mining activities as one of the issues requiring investigation.

The deaths have prompted strong action from the Federal Government.

The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, was suspended following the incident, while authorities ordered a comprehensive investigation into what happened to the detainees.

The NSCDC also constituted an investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, the period they spent in custody, the conditions in which they were detained and the medical attention provided to them.

The Niger State Government equally established a committee of inquiry and ordered autopsies to help determine the cause of death.

The Federal Government has also constituted an independent committee to investigate the incident following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive and transparent probe.

The committee is expected to establish what happened, determine responsibility where applicable and make recommendations arising from its findings.

The deaths sparked anger in Minna, with protests reported around NSCDC facilities.

Police reportedly used tear gas to disperse protesters as tension rose over the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The state government subsequently appealed for calm and warned youths against resorting to violence while investigations continued.

Governor Bago had earlier announced mourning arrangements for the victims and expressed concern over the deaths, saying the authorities were working to establish the identities of the deceased and contact their families.

The incident has also raised wider questions about the treatment of suspects in detention and the conditions under which they were held.

Some survivors and witnesses have alleged that the detainees were packed into an overcrowded facility, while other accounts have raised allegations of physical abuse and exposure to harmful substances.

These allegations remain part of the ongoing investigations and have not been established as the official cause of the deaths.

The authorities have stressed the importance of allowing medical and forensic investigations to establish the facts before definitive conclusions are reached.

Amid the controversy, Amnesty International has also questioned the blanket description of the deceased as “illegal miners”, arguing that the designation should not be treated as established guilt, particularly because the deceased would no longer be able to defend themselves.

The allegation linking Babangida to the mining site has therefore introduced another dimension to the unfolding controversy.

For now, there are two sharply conflicting accounts: the survivor’s allegation identifying Babangida as the alleged owner of the site and the former military ruler’s categorical denial that he has any connection with the mining operation.

No publicly available evidence cited in the reports reviewed has independently established Babangida’s ownership or involvement in the mining site.

The central questions surrounding the deaths — including why the miners were detained, the conditions under which they were held, what caused the deaths and whether any officials or other individuals should bear responsibility — remain subjects of investigation.

As the various probes continue, attention is expected to focus on the findings of the medical examinations, autopsies and independent investigations, which could determine the circumstances that led to the deaths of the 37 detainees.

Until those investigations are completed, claims concerning the cause of death, responsibility for the fatalities and the alleged ownership of the mining site remain subject to verification.

Niger Gold Mine Scandal: IBB Breaks Silence, Rejects Ownership Claim