In a dramatic purge to save its battered image, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has named and shamed 24 of its own men now in chains over the gruesome deaths of 37 artisanal miners.
The death toll, which has thrown the nation into mourning and outrage, forced the Corps to take the unprecedented step of flying its flag at half-mast for three days across all formations.
NSCDC spokesman, Babawale Afolabi, who released the full list of the detained officers on Sunday, said the Commandant General, Ahmed Audi, is in deep mourning and has vowed that no culprit will walk free.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier ordered an independent probe, insisting that all those responsible must account for their deeds.
24 Behind Bars, More Questions Than Answers
The latest crackdown saw three more personnel arrested, bringing the total number of detained officers to 24.
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In what Afolabi described as a swift and decisive joint operation with the Commandant General’s Special Investigation Squad, all officers linked to the gross misconduct in Niger State Command were rounded up on September 17 and moved to the National Headquarters in Abuja.
They are now undergoing rigorous interrogation and administrative disciplinary action to prepare them for the Presidential Independent Investigation Committee.
Those named are Subaru Aniviye, John Chagwa, Obafemi Elvis, Stephen Tsado, Oluwadare Sunday, Annas Lamino, Usman Ndamaka, Aminu Garba, Musa Marafa, Isah Sulaiman, Hassan Muhammad, Alhassan Muhammad, Aliyu Sallah, Abdullahi Sale, Mohammed Sonfada, Mohammed Jiya, Sale Adamu, Haruna Muhammed, Baba Muhamma, Isah Sanusi, Liman Abubakar, Bala Usman and Ahmed Wushishi.
Flag of Shame, Oath of Justice
In a solemn display of institutional remorse, Audi ordered the Corps flag flown at half-mast from Sunday for three days to honour the dead and signal a resolve to purge bad eggs.
Afolabi quoted the CG: “As a Corps built on integrity, professionalism, discipline, and absolute respect for the rule of law, we do not condone unprofessional conduct, high-handedness, or any action that undermines the fundamental rights of citizens.”
He assured that due process, transparency and accountability will guide the investigation.
