Former military Head of State, retired General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has denied any connection to a gold-mining site in Niger State where 37 suspected illegal miners were arrested before dying in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Babangida, through his representative, Dr Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, rejected a media report that identified him as the alleged owner of the mining site.

The denial followed a Sahara Reporters publication quoting a survivor of the incident, Malam Babawo Tudun Nasera, who reportedly named the former military ruler while recounting events surrounding the miners’ arrest.

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In a response to the report, Abdulhameed described the allegation as false, baseless and without foundation. He also called for a correction, insisting that Babangida had no involvement in the mining operation.

Babangida Rejects Alleged Ownership of Niger Mining Site

Abdulhameed said the publication created a false impression by linking Babangida to the site where the suspected illegal miners were apprehended.

“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.

“This allegation is false, baseless and completely without foundation,” the representative said.

He categorically rejected the claim and demanded that the report be corrected to reflect Babangida’s position.

“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,” Abdulhameed stated.

The representative also urged members of the public to disregard the allegation, maintaining that it had no factual basis.

“We urge members of the public to disregard the report and the unfounded allegation contained in it,” he added.

Survivor Had Named Babangida During Account of Arrest

The ownership claim originated from Nasera, who reportedly recounted the circumstances surrounding the miners’ arrest at the Niger State site.

According to the Sahara Reporters account, Nasera said authorities wanted the miners to stop working, despite what he described as an instruction from the alleged owner for mining activities to continue.

When asked who owned the site, Nasera reportedly responded, “It belongs to Babangida.”

He later clarified that he was referring to the former military Head of State. When asked whether Babangida had instructed the miners to continue working at the location, Nasera reportedly answered in the affirmative.

Nasera was also reported to have spoken about his 17-year-old brother, Salim, who was among those who died following their arrest.

However, the survivor’s account and the representative’s denial present conflicting claims about the alleged ownership of the mining site. The material provided does not independently establish who owns or operates the location.

Allegation Remains Separate From Investigation Into Miners’ Deaths

The controversy over the mine’s alleged ownership comes amid questions surrounding the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in NSCDC custody.

Babangida’s representative has specifically denied any connection between the former Head of State and the mining operation. His statement does not, by itself, resolve the broader questions surrounding the miners’ arrest, detention and deaths.

The allegation made by the survivor should therefore be distinguished from independently verified findings about the ownership of the site or the circumstances that led to the deaths.

Abdulhameed’s demand for a correction underscores the dispute over the report’s claim, while the available account does not provide independent confirmation of the alleged link to Babangida.

The former military ruler’s position is that he has no connection whatsoever with the mining operation and that the public should disregard the claim until reliable evidence establishes otherwise.