Parents of artisanal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State have demanded compensation for the families of the deceased.
The parents said compensation would provide some support to the bereaved families and serve as a deterrent against alleged abuse of power by law enforcement personnel.
Among those affected is 50-year-old Musa Aliyu, who said he lost two sons, Ibrahim, 17, and Abubakar, 12, in the incident.
Aliyu, who has been battling illness for about a year, said his two sons were among his major sources of support, particularly in paying for his medication.
He said the boys left home on Wednesday for the mining site around the Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Housing Estate but failed to return that evening.
“My wife was later informed that some miners had been arrested, so she went to the Civil Defence office near the PDP Secretariat,” Aliyu said.
He said his wife met several relatives at the office who were also searching for their children.
“She was informed that our children were dead and we were asked to go to the General Hospital to identify and claim their bodies,” he added.
Aliyu said the loss had left his family devastated, stressing that his sons regularly contributed money towards his treatment.
“These children helped me sustain my medication. They contributed money to buy drugs for me,” he said.
While declining to directly accuse any individual, Aliyu said he believed his children were killed and left the matter to God.
Another parent, Lawal Mohammad, said his 15-year-old son, Suleiman, was also among those who died.
Mohammad said he tried to take food to his son after the miners were arrested but was denied access by NSCDC personnel.
“We went to the Civil Defence office on Wednesday night and were asked to return the following day,” he said.
“We went back on Thursday morning to give him food, but we were told that he was dead.”
Mohammad said he was at the NSCDC office when the bodies were brought out and taken away in ambulances.
“I am in pain, and I cannot forgive this. Those responsible should be made to pay compensation so as to serve as a lesson to others who abuse power,” he said.
He said his son had taken up artisanal mining to earn a living and contribute to the family’s upkeep.
The grieving parent called on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths and ensure that anyone found responsible is held accountable.
The deaths have triggered demands for answers over the circumstances surrounding the detention of the miners and what led to their deaths in custody.
