Atiku Visits IBB, Donates ₦20 Million To Families Of 37 Miners

Former Vice-President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has donated ₦20 million to the families of the 37 suspected artisanal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

Naija News reports that the victims were among scores of people arrested during operations around the Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna on September 15 and 16.

The deaths have sparked public outrage, with the Federal Government suspending the Niger State NSCDC commandant and ordering an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Atiku made the donation on Tuesday during a visit to Minna, where he met with some families and survivors of the incident.

The former vice-president also paid condolence visits to the Emir of Minna, Umar Bahago, and former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the deaths as a painful reminder of the hardship confronting many young Nigerians.

He said he was particularly disturbed by the account given by one of the survivors.

Atiku said, “It was a gory tale listening to one of the survivors.

“He told us that more than 68 of them were crammed into one small detention facility and that conditions became so desperate that they had to drink one another’s urine just to stay hydrated.

“No Nigerian should ever be subjected to such indignity in the custody of his own government. These were human beings in the care of the state. Whatever accusations may have been made against them, they were entitled to their lives, their dignity and the protection of the law.”

Atiku said the deaths should go beyond an investigation into what happened inside the detention facility, arguing that the government must also examine the economic conditions that push young Nigerians into dangerous livelihoods.

He further stated, “Thirty-seven young Nigerians entered the custody of the state alive and did not return alive to their families. That tragedy demands truth, justice and accountability.

“But beyond establishing what happened in that detention facility, we must also ask why so many of our young people are being pushed into dangerous and precarious livelihoods simply to survive.”

The ADC candidate also called on the Federal Government to assess how its economic policies affect households and young people.

According to Atiku, worsening living costs could force more Nigerians into hazardous means of survival.

“When families can no longer afford the basics, and young people are forced to take extraordinary risks just to earn a living, government cannot pretend that everything is working,” he said.

He added that the success of economic reforms should ultimately be judged by their impact on ordinary Nigerians.

“Economic reform must ultimately be measured by what it does to the lives of ordinary people. If life becomes progressively more difficult for families, workers and young people, then government has a responsibility to reconsider the choices producing those outcomes,” Atiku said.