Workers from the Niger state Ministry of Minerals Resources reportedly escaped mob action as over 300 women and youths of Tutungo community in Paikoro Local government area allegedly attacked them.
The officials while on a fact-finding visit in the area to investigate the cause of the death of two brothers at a mining site.
It was gathered that, the action followed an alleged extortion of N25,000 by officials of the National Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, from members of the community.
It was gathered the incident occurred after the two deceased brothers Zubairu and Sadiq Ibrahim, aged between 20 and 25, died at a mining site at Kakaki village, Butu.
Findings have it that rather than helping or sympathizing with the family over the loss, the NSCDC officials demanded and collected the sum of N25,000 from them, a development which prompted the aggrieved villagers to transfer aggression on the mining officials.
It was gathered that the officials managed to escape the area unhurt through the help of some members of the community.
Confirming the development, the State Ministry for Mineral Resources in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Mrs Dibie Maureen, said the team led by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Yunusa Mohammed Nahauni encountered difficulties accessing the accident site.
Accordingly, she said, “they (community members) claimed some men of the NSCDC had allegedly extorted 25,000 from the parents of the deceased to fuel their vehicles, causing the villagers, particularly the youth and women, to express their anger on the team.
“They thought the team had also visited them to also extort money. However, with pleading and persuasion from the Permanent Secretary and the Director, Mining, the situation was calmed down before leaving the village.
“The Permanent secretary reminded the community that the governor’s order suspending mining in the state and crackdown on illegal mining operations still subsist, warning that anyone found in violation of these regulations would face legal consequences.”
Responding, the District Head of Tutungo Paiko LGA, Mallam Muda Abdullahi thanked the team and acknowledged being informed about the incident by Mallam Ayuba Ahmadu, the village head of Butu Kakaki village.
However, when contacted, the state headquarters of NSCDC through its Public Relations Officer, DSC Abubakar Muti denied the allegations, saying “the Deputy Governor Comrade Yakubu Garba called our state Commandant on the issue and he led a delegation to the area. You don’t expect the family of the deceased to give us money to go there.
“The allegation is false, we have cautioned all our divisional officers and they all said nothing of that sort happened. We have gone there, done our report and submitted our report to the acting governor of the state.”
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