Former military Head of State, retired General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has denied owning or having any connection with the gold-mining site in Niger State where 37 suspected illegal miners were arrested before their deaths in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Babangida, through his representative, Dr Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, dismissed the allegation as false and unfounded, following a report in which a survivor identified him as the owner of the mining site.
In a statement responding to the report, Abdulhameed said Babangida had no involvement in the mining operation and urged the publication to correct what he described as a misleading impression.
“My attention has been drawn to a publication on your platform alleging that the mining site where illegal miners were arrested belongs to General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR,” he said.
“This allegation is false, baseless and completely without foundation.”
The denial followed an account by a survivor, Malam Babawo Tudun Nasera, who identified Babangida as the owner of the gold-mining site.
Nasera said the miners had been told to stop working at the site by authorities but claimed they continued following an alleged instruction from the owner.
When asked who owned the site, Nasera responded, “It belongs to Babangida,” and subsequently confirmed that he was referring to the former military ruler.
However, the report noted that the claim could not be independently verified and that it was unclear whether Babangida owned the mining operation, held a mining lease over the site, owned the land or was being referred to in another capacity.
Abdulhameed therefore called for the allegation to be disregarded.
“We categorically reject the publication and demand that the false impression created by it be corrected. General Babangida has no connection whatsoever with the mining operation in question,” he said.
He also urged members of the public to disregard the allegation while calling for proper verification before publishing claims of such nature.
The statement acknowledged the role of investigative journalism but urged media organisations to thoroughly verify allegations before publication.
Babangida’s denial comes amid an ongoing investigation into the deaths of at least 37 suspected illegal miners following their arrest and detention by NSCDC personnel in Niger State.
Survivors had alleged that the detainees were held for several days in a small and overcrowded cell under extreme heat.
One survivor, Dauda Shehu, claimed that as many as 66 people were held together and that repeated pleas for the cell to be opened were ignored.
Shehu further alleged that some detainees became severely dehydrated and resorted to drinking their own urine.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths have triggered calls for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the detention and the cause of death of the detainees.
Babangida had earlier condemned the deaths, describing the incident as tragic and disturbing.
He expressed condolences to the families of those who died and welcomed the Niger State Government’s decision to establish a committee of inquiry.
He also backed the planned medical and forensic examinations aimed at determining the circumstances and causes of the deaths.
Babangida called on residents, particularly youths and relatives of the deceased, to remain calm while the investigation continues.
He further urged all parties to avoid actions capable of escalating tensions or threatening peace and security in Niger State, expressing hope that the inquiry would be conducted transparently and provide answers to the affected families.