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

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The miners 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 concern, prompting the Federal Government to suspend the Niger State NSCDC commandant and order an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Atiku made the donation on Tuesday during a visit to Minna, where he met with some of the affected families and survivors. He 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 said he was particularly disturbed by an account given by one of the survivors, who reportedly said more than 68 detainees were held in a small detention facility and that some were forced to drink urine because of severe conditions and lack of water.

“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 ADC candidate said the deaths should not only be investigated to establish what happened inside the detention facility but should also prompt wider consideration of the economic circumstances that push young Nigerians into dangerous and precarious livelihoods.

He said 37 young Nigerians entered state custody alive and did not return to their families, adding that the incident demands “truth, justice and accountability.”

Atiku also called for greater attention to the impact of economic policies on households and young people, arguing that rising living costs could force more Nigerians to take dangerous risks in search of income.

“Economic reform must ultimately be measured by what it does to the lives of ordinary people,” he said, urging the government to reconsider policies if families, workers and young people continue to face worsening economic hardship.