News
Atiku demands independent probe after 37 suspected miners die in NSCDC custody
Former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
Atiku, in a statement posted on X on Friday, said the victims were entitled to protection and dignity while in government custody, regardless of the allegations against them.
“I am deeply saddened and profoundly disturbed by the deaths of dozens of Nigerians while in NSCDC custody in Niger State,” he said.
According to him, those who died were “sons, fathers, brothers and loved ones” whose families had every right to expect the state to protect their lives while they remained in custody.
“No Nigerian should enter government custody and lose the most basic right of all: the right to life,” Atiku said.
He commended the Federal Government for suspending the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and ordering a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Atiku, however, stressed that the investigation must go beyond the initial administrative action.
“The investigation must be independent, thorough and transparent, and its findings must be made public,” he said.
He added that anyone found responsible through “action, abuse or negligence” should be held accountable.
The former Vice President also called on the authorities to provide justice and answers to the families of the deceased.
“The families of the deceased deserve more than condolences. They deserve the truth. They deserve justice. And Nigerians deserve the assurance that custody by the state will never become a death sentence,” he said.
Atiku expressed sympathy with the bereaved families and urged authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths without delay.
The deaths have triggered investigations by the Federal Government, the NSCDC and the Niger State Government.
The victims were among scores of suspects arrested during NSCDC enforcement operations against illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16.
The Niger State NSCDC Command initially said some of the detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17 following what it described as a suspected disease outbreak. The corpses were taken to the General Hospital in Minna for medical examination. However, the NSCDC headquarters subsequently stressed that the actual cause of death had yet to be established.
Niger State Governor Umaru Bago later confirmed that 37 suspected illegal miners had died in custody. He said forensic examinations, medical examinations and autopsies would be conducted to establish the scientific cause of the deaths. The state government also constituted a committee of inquiry into the incident.
The Federal Government has suspended Aniviye pending the outcome of the investigation and ordered a full probe into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The NSCDC has also constituted a high-powered investigative team to examine the condition of the detainees when they were arrested, their period in custody, detention conditions and the medical attention they received.
The incident has also sparked protests in Minna, with security personnel deployed to parts of the state capital as authorities work to contain tensions.
The exact cause of the deaths remains unestablished. While the Niger State command initially referred to a suspected disease outbreak, reports and allegations about overcrowding and poor ventilation have also emerged. Authorities have said medical and forensic investigations are necessary before any definitive conclusion can be reached.
MINNA, Niger State — An engine oil seller in Minna, the Niger State capital, has reportedly sustained serious injuries after allegedly being shot during a police operation to disperse protesters.
The victim, identified as Ibrahim Mohammed Dada, was reportedly standing outside his shop at Tunga Market when he was struck by a bullet.
Ibrahim’s brother, Yakubu Dada Mohammed, said the victim was not part of the protest and was attending to customers at his engine oil stall when the incident occurred.
According to him, Ibrahim was simply trying to earn a living and support his family when a police officer allegedly fired a shot that hit him in the head and severely injured his face.
«“He was not among those protesting. He was standing in front of his shop selling engine oil when one of the police officers fired a bullet that struck his head and badly injured his face,” Yakubu said.»
Ibrahim is currently receiving treatment at Minna General Hospital, where his condition was reportedly described as critical.
The incident occurred amid protests in Minna over the reported deaths of 37 miners who were allegedly in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Reports indicate that 65 miners were arrested on September 15 and 16, with 37 subsequently reported dead while in security custody.
The protests, which began on Thursday, continued into Friday as security personnel moved to disperse demonstrators. Security forces were reportedly accused of using tear gas and live ammunition during the operation.
However, the circumstances surrounding Ibrahim’s shooting have not been independently established.
The Niger State Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, appealed for calm and said the incident would be investigated.
The case has since heightened concerns over the conduct of security personnel during the ongoing protests.
By Agaji Emmanuel
Nigeria’s political landscape is once again being reshaped by alliances that do not always fit neatly into traditional party lines. As the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections, the growing political relevance of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, presents an interesting case of how personal political networks and cross-party relationships can influence the calculations of an incumbent administration.
In this regard, Wike’s relevance to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu goes beyond his position as FCT Minister or his former status as a governor of Rivers State. His greatest political value may lie in his ability to operate across party boundaries and maintain relationships with political actors who do not necessarily belong to the same political party.
The emergence of the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State is one example. The coalition has brought together politicians from different parties, including the PDP and APC, around support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid. Wike has consistently maintained that his support for Tinubu does not mean the PDP cannot field candidates in other elections.
That position makes the political arrangement particularly unusual.
Wike Beyond the APC-PDP Divide
Wike remains a PDP politician even while serving in an APC-led federal administration. President Tinubu appointed him FCT Minister after the 2023 presidential election, creating an uncommon relationship between a former opposition heavyweight and a president whose party was on the other side of the political divide.
Rather than viewing politics solely through the traditional APC-versus-PDP prism, Wike has increasingly presented his political engagement around what he considers strategic interests.
He has openly declared his support for Tinubu’s second-term bid, while maintaining that the PDP remains free to contest governorship and legislative elections in 2027.
That distinction is important because it suggests that Wike’s political calculation is not necessarily about abandoning his party but about creating room for political alliances that transcend conventional party boundaries.
And that, in this writer’s assessment, is where his value to Tinubu becomes significant.
An Administrative Asset in Abuja
Beyond politics, Wike’s performance as FCT Minister has also strengthened his relevance within the Tinubu administration.
Since assuming office in 2023, Wike has overseen several road and infrastructure projects across Abuja and the satellite towns. President Tinubu has repeatedly publicly commended the minister, including in June 2026, when he praised Wike for the pace of infrastructure development in the capital.
The President has also specifically credited Wike with helping to turn government plans into completed road and infrastructure projects across the FCT.
Whether one agrees with every policy of the Tinubu administration or not, the visible infrastructure drive in Abuja has become one of the most prominent aspects of Wike’s ministerial profile.
Roads, satellite-town infrastructure, public facilities and other development projects have given the minister a strong administrative presence.
Wike himself has consistently attributed the progress in the FCT to President Tinubu’s support and the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
His Political Capital May Be More Important
But Wike’s political significance cannot be measured only by roads, buildings and infrastructure.
His experience in opposition politics, his former position as Rivers governor, his extensive political network and his relationships across party lines give him a political reach that may be useful to the Tinubu administration as 2027 approaches.
The question, therefore, is not simply what Wike delivers as a minister.
It is what his political network can potentially add to the administration’s broader coalition-building efforts.
The Rivers Rainbow Coalition is particularly significant in this regard. Wike has described it as the platform to further catapult President Tinubu’s victory in 2027.
News
Labour Party Candidate Takes Leadership Message to Deltans as 2027 Political Season Gathers Momentum
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson 1st, the Labour Party’s 2027 Delta State governorship candidate, has released a new campaign jingle designed to communicate his leadership vision and development agenda to the people of Delta State.
The release comes as political activities surrounding the 2027 governorship contest continue to intensify and amid attention to pending judicial developments concerning political and electoral matters.
The campaign jingle presents Dr. Avotu Johnson’s candidacy around a central message of quality leadership, accountable governance, economic opportunity and a new direction for Delta State.
Dr. Avotu Johnson was reported as the Labour Party’s Delta governorship candidate following the party’s 2026 governorship primaries.
“GOOD. BETTER. BEST.”
At the heart of the campaign is the GOOD. BETTER. BEST. vision, which Dr. Avotu Johnson has consistently presented as a framework for moving Delta State from existing achievements toward higher standards of governance and public service.
The campaign’s published priorities include economic development, job creation, education, healthcare, infrastructure, youth empowerment, technology, security and transparent governance.
The new jingle seeks to transform those policy messages into a memorable public campaign theme capable of reaching communities across the state’s 25 Local Government Areas.
A MESSAGE OF LEADERSHIP
Supporters of the Labour Party candidate describe the campaign as an attempt to place leadership quality and measurable governance at the centre of the 2027 Delta conversation.
Rather than focusing exclusively on political personalities, the campaign message emphasizes what it describes as competence, accountability, development and service to the people.
Dr. Avotu Johnson has also publicly linked his political programme to his long-standing advocacy for democratic participation and accountable government.
His campaign slogan, “A Good Delta. A Better Delta. The Best Delta,” has become one of the principal messages associated with his 2027 governorship project.
THE CONTEST AHEAD
The 2027 Delta governorship contest is expected to involve candidates from several political parties. A recent candidate tracker lists Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson for the Labour Party alongside candidates associated with APC, ADC, YP and ZLP, among others.
Against that political background, the Labour Party campaign says the new jingle is intended to introduce its candidate and his programme to a wider audience while encouraging voters to examine the competing candidates, their records, ideas and proposed programmes.
LOOKING TOWARD THE SUPREME COURT
The campaign’s reference to the Supreme Court reflects the wider legal and political environment surrounding Nigeria’s electoral process. However, the outcome of any pending judicial proceeding remains a matter for the Court and should not be presented as predetermined.
For the Avotu Johnson campaign, the immediate political message is clear: the Labour Party candidate intends to continue presenting himself to Deltans as a candidate focused on quality leadership and development-driven governance.
As the 2027 election approaches, the campaign jingle is expected to become an important part of the candidate’s communication strategy across radio, television, social media, community engagements and grassroots mobilisation.
For supporters of Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson 1st, the message behind the music is simple:
GOOD LEADERSHIP.
BETTER GOVERNANCE.
BEST DELTA.
Dr. Barry Avotu Johnson 1st
Labour Party — 2027 Delta State Governorship Candidate
GOOD. BETTER. BEST.
A NEW DELTA STATE IS POSSIBLE.
Police Allegedly Shoot Engine Oil Seller During Minna Protest
Beyond Party Lines: Why Wike Has Become a Political Asset to Tinubu
Labour Party Candidate Takes Leadership Message to Deltans as 2027 Political Season Gathers Momentum
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