An Assistant Director at the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Hajiya Halima Omolara Ibrahim, has accused operatives of the Mining Marshal of assaulting and detaining her while carrying out her official duties at a mining site in Kwakuti, Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State.
Ibrahim made the allegation while testifying before the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Judicial Commission of Inquiry investigating the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
She told the commission that the incident occurred on April 17, 2026, when Mining Marshal operatives, allegedly led by SC Jibrin Mohammed, raided the mining site and arrested her alongside some artisanal miners.
According to her, the operatives ignored her official identification card and refused to listen to her explanations despite identifying herself as a ministry official.
Ibrahim alleged that she was beaten, strangled, dragged on the ground and humiliated before being taken to the Mining Marshal’s headquarters in Minna, where she was detained between 6 p.m. and 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 told the commission.
She added that the alleged assault left her with facial bruises and torn clothing.
The ministry official explained that her responsibilities included registering artisanal miners, supervising their activities and ensuring compliance with mining regulations.
She disclosed that her office had registered approximately 400 artisanal miners to operate alongside licensed miners in the state.
Ibrahim further accused the Mining Marshal of carrying out enforcement operations without involving her office, despite an existing working relationship between the ministry’s enforcement unit and security operatives.
She also alleged that some Mining Marshal operatives collected between N6 million and N7 million from miners and carted away mined gold during their operations.
The witness reportedly submitted documentary evidence to support her testimony, which the commission admitted as exhibits.
On the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners, Ibrahim said her office was not aware of the operation that allegedly led to their deaths between September 16 and 17, 2026.
She further alleged that other miners had died during security operations in Niger State without attracting similar public attention.
She identified Korokpa and Garafini communities in Borgu Local Government Area, as well as Kwakuti in Paikoro Local Government Area, as locations where miners had allegedly died during NSCDC operations.
According to her, the deaths of the 37 miners attracted widespread attention because they occurred while the victims were in the custody of the security agency.
The judicial commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths, as well as allegations of misconduct and other irregularities arising from mining enforcement operations in Niger State.
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