Ministry director accuses mining marshals of assault, detention in Niger

An Assistant Director within the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Hajiya Halima Omolara Ibrahim, has accused Mining Marshal operatives of assaulting and detaining her whereas performing her official duties at a mining website in Kwakuti, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.

Ibrahim made the allegation whereas testifying earlier than the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the deaths of 37 suspected unlawful miners within the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

She advised the fee that the incident occurred on April 17, 2026, when operatives allegedly led by SC Jibrin Mohammed raided the location and arrested her alongside artisanal miners.

According to her, the operatives ignored her official identification card and refused to hearken to her explanations regardless of figuring out herself as a ministry official.

She alleged that she was overwhelmed, strangled, dragged on the bottom and humiliated earlier than being taken to the Mining Marshal’s headquarters in Minna, the place she was detained from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

“I was beaten, molested, humiliated, strangulated and beaten to a state of pulp and dragged on the ground before they bundled me into their waiting van,” she advised the fee.

She stated she sustained facial bruises and her garments have been torn in the course of the alleged assault.

Ibrahim stated her obligations included registering artisanal miners, supervising their actions and guaranteeing compliance with mining laws. She disclosed that her workplace had registered about 400 artisanal miners to function alongside licensed miners within the state.

She accused the Mining Marshal of conducting enforcement operations with out involving her workplace, regardless of an present working relationship between the ministry’s enforcement unit and safety operatives.

She additionally alleged that Mining Marshal operatives extorted between N6 million and N7 million from miners and took their mined gold.

The witness reportedly submitted documentary proof, which the fee admitted as reveals.

On the deaths of the 37 suspected miners, Ibrahim stated her workplace was unaware of the operation that reportedly led to their deaths between September 16 and 17, 2026.

She alleged that different miners had died throughout safety operations in Niger State with out attracting related public consideration, naming Korokpa and Garafini in Borgu Local Government Area and Kwakuti in Paikoro Local Government Area as areas the place such deaths allegedly occurred throughout NSCDC operations.

According to her, the deaths of the 37 miners attracted consideration as a result of they occurred within the company’s custody.

The fee is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths and different allegations arising from mining enforcement operations within the state.