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NANYD Faults Miners’ Death Probe, Alleges NSCDC Witch-Hunt
NANYD questions the miners’ death probe report, alleging contradictions in its findings and recommendations against NSCDC leadership
The National Association of Nigerian Youth in Development (NANYD) has criticised a federal government committee’s report on the deaths of 33 miners in Minna, Niger State, questioning its recommendation for a complete overhaul of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) leadership.
Also read: 2027 Polls: NSCDC Chief Charges Officers on Professional Conduct
The association commended the committee for submitting its report but described its recommendation against the corps’ leadership as contradictory, alleging that it amounted to a witch-hunt.
In a statement signed by its National President, Alhaji Bukura Ahmed, PhD, NANYD argued that the report’s findings indicated that the now-suspended Niger State NSCDC commandant conducted the operation without the requisite approval from the corps’ national headquarters.
According to the association, the report stated that the operation was undertaken without proper planning and without the involvement of mining authorities or senior NSCDC officials at the national and zonal levels.
NANYD questioned why the committee would recommend a sweeping restructuring of the corps’ leadership if its own findings indicated that the national headquarters had not been informed of the operation.
“The committee deserves credit. Here is the contradiction and it is not a small one,” Bukura said.
He argued that the operation was conceived and executed at the command level, allegedly without the established channels of consultation and supervision.
The association maintained that the officers responsible for planning and carrying out the operation should face accountability for their actions, rather than the national leadership being held responsible for an operation it allegedly did not authorise.
Bukura said the suspended commandant had acted on his own operational discretion, with the decision resulting in what he described as catastrophic consequences.
He argued that, if the committee’s findings were accurate, the NSCDC national headquarters could not reasonably be described as the architect of the tragedy.
NANYD also questioned the treatment of officers allegedly involved in the operation, including those responsible for the detention of the miners.
The association referred to allegations that about 50 people were crammed into a cell and that their cries for help were ignored.
It argued that the committee should clearly distinguish the responsibility of officers involved in the operation from that of senior officials who were allegedly not informed.
Bukura said the committee’s recommendation for murder charges against officers implicated in the incident was appropriate, but questioned why it also recommended an overhaul of the corps’ leadership.
He maintained that the two recommendations could not comfortably coexist without a clearer explanation of the national leadership’s alleged responsibility.
The association’s position is that responsibility should be based on the findings of the investigation and the roles played by individual officers, rather than a blanket decision affecting the entire leadership.
NANYD also expressed support for the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, praising his leadership and describing efforts to remove him over the incident as unjustified.
Bukura cautioned against using the miners’ deaths to undermine the commandant-general’s contributions to the agency, arguing that the leadership should not be held responsible for an operation it allegedly neither authorised nor knew about.
He questioned whether the same standard of collective responsibility would be applied to other security institutions and political officeholders following deadly incidents elsewhere in the country.
“With the plenty of killings in Benue, Plateau and other killings across the country, we should as well recommend that all the service chiefs, the Police IG, Governors of the states who are the Chief Security Officers of the State, the Minister of Defence and also the President be overhauled because of the tragedies,” he said.
Bukura argued that a single operational failure should not automatically invalidate the work of an entire institution, while insisting that officers directly responsible for misconduct should be held accountable.
The association further alleged that powerful interests within government could be seeking to remove the NSCDC leadership under the cover of the tragedy.
It described the proposed overhaul as a possible witch-hunt, arguing that the committee’s recommendations appeared inconsistent with its own findings.
“ There is a witch-hunt here and it is aimed at a leadership that the report’s own findings exonerate,” Bukura said.
He also questioned whether the corps’ previous achievements in protecting critical infrastructure, tackling sabotage and securing mining sites had been adequately considered in the report.
NANYD called for the reasoning behind the recommendation to overhaul the leadership to be examined, arguing that the investigation should clearly establish the responsibility of the officers and officials involved.
The association’s criticism centres on the distinction between the alleged conduct of the suspended Niger State commandant and the responsibility of the NSCDC’s national leadership.
Its claims about a witch-hunt and the leadership’s exoneration represent its interpretation of the report.
Also read: 2027 Polls: NSCDC Chief Charges Officers on Professional Conduct
The controversy has placed renewed attention on accountability within the security agency and the need for clear findings on the circumstances that led to the deaths of the miners.
Prophet Israel Oladele of the Celestial Church of Christ, Genesis Global International Parish, has unveiled plans for the Luli Prayer Conference 2026, calling on members of the Celestial Church of Christ worldwide to embrace peace, unity and fervent prayers for Nigeria.
The Global Prophet made the announcement during a media briefing in Lagos, where he highlighted the spiritual significance of September 29, the founding day of the Celestial Church of Christ worldwide, describing it as a moment for thanksgiving, renewal and collective intercession.
According to him, this year’s conference will hold on September 29, 2026, at Genesis Global City, Alakuko, Lagos, bringing together Celestials, Christians and people of other faiths for a day of worship and prayer.
Prophet Oladele said the 2026 edition would place particular emphasis on praying for Nigeria as the country approaches another election cycle.
He noted that the church has a divine responsibility to continually seek God’s intervention for the nation’s peace, stability and progress, adding that the conference would extend beyond celebration to become a platform for prayers for Nigeria and the world.
“The Luli Prayer Conference is not just a celebration; it is a divine gathering where we unite in thanksgiving and seek God’s intervention for our nation and humanity,” he said.
The cleric also made a passionate appeal for unity within the Celestial Church of Christ, urging members across different parishes and regions to recognise their shared spiritual heritage.
He stressed that all Celestials are bound together by the legacy of the church’s founder, Reverend Samuel Bilewu Joseph Oshofa, whose vision continues to define the identity of the worldwide church.
According to Prophet Oladele, differences among members should never overshadow the common foundation laid by the founder, as unity remains essential to preserving the church’s mission.
He described Reverend Oshofa’s legacy as a rallying point capable of bringing together Celestials across the globe, regardless of branch, location or personal differences.
Looking ahead, the Global Prophet announced that the 2027 Luli Prayer Conference would coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Celestial Church of Christ, promising what he described as an “explosive” global celebration.
He said preparations for the landmark anniversary would begin immediately after this year’s conference, with activities expected to unite Celestials from around the world in celebrating eight decades of the church’s existence.
Prophet Oladele reiterated that preserving the unity of the Celestial family remains vital to honouring the vision of Reverend S.B.J. Oshofa and ensuring the continued growth of the church worldwide.
He concluded the briefing by urging members to embrace their shared identity, work together in love and continue praying for the peace and prosperity of Nigeria.
Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has urged Nigerians to exercise restraint when recording police officers, describing the indiscriminate filming of officers as “very, very demoralising” to the force.
Disu made the remarks during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abuja, where he expressed concern that some Nigerians had begun recording police officers in situations beyond their official duties, including while eating at restaurants.
The IGP, however, acknowledged that citizens have a right to record police officers performing their duties in public. He urged Nigerians not to use such recordings to turn police encounters into social-media skits or entertainment.
The comments followed a March 17, 2026 judgment by the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, which affirmed the constitutional right of Nigerians to record police officers carrying out their duties in public spaces.
Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa, in the judgment, held that citizens could record police officers during stop-and-search operations and other public interactions for purposes including documenting and reporting their conduct.
The court also held that officers should wear visible identification, including their names and force numbers, while carrying out public duties.
The judgment further restrained police officers from harassing, intimidating or arresting citizens simply for recording their activities in public, or confiscating their devices for that reason.
The court awarded ₦5 million in damages over the violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights and a further ₦2 million in litigation costs.
The case was filed by lawyer Maxwell Nosakhare Uwaifo, who said he attempted to record an encounter with men he believed to be police officers during a stop-and-search operation along the Sapele Roundabout while travelling from Benin to Warri in May 2025.
According to the case, the officers allegedly threatened to arrest him and demanded that he stop recording. Uwaifo argued that citizens have a constitutional right to document the conduct of law enforcement officers performing public duties.
The court’s ruling established a distinction between legitimate documentation of police activity and physical interference with police operations. Citizens can record officers carrying out their duties in public, but the right does not extend to obstructing or interfering with lawful police operations.
Following the IGP’s recent comments, the Nigeria Police Force clarified that Disu was not seeking to ban citizens from recording officers.
Force New Media Officer Aliyu Giwa said the concern was about the misuse of recordings, particularly when police encounters are deliberately turned into entertainment or used to ridicule officers.
Giwa said responsible recording could benefit both citizens and police officers by providing evidence in cases of alleged misconduct while also helping to protect officers against false allegations.
The controversy has therefore centred on how the constitutional right should be exercised, rather than whether citizens possess the right to record police officers in public.
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