By Uthman Baba-Naseer,Minna

The head of detention facility of the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), ASC Usman Isah Ndamaka openly broke into tears while testifying before the ongoing Justice Mohammed Mohammed Judicial Commission of Inquiry in Minna stating that lack of enough personnel and the fear being overpowered by the late miners prevented him from opening their detention cell.

His testimony is coming as personnel of the Corp who were arrested on the order of the Commandant General of the Corp CG Ahmed Abubakar Audi in connection with the death of the 37 persons in the custody of the NSCDC,continued to testify before the Commission of Inquiry to investigate the unfortunate tragedy of the 17th September,2026 at the NSCDC custody.

He stated that a total of fifty eight suspects were brought to the Command comprising of twenty five female and thirty thirty three male.

He told the Commission that the detention facility is to accommodate between twenty eight to thirty suspects “but we separated female to the other facility”

Twenty two of the personnel including the state suspended Commandant of the Corp Siayaka Zubeiru Aniriviye were ordered to be arrested by CG Ahmed Abubakar Audi and taken to the Corp’s headquarters in Abuja.

So far, eight of the personnel have testified before the Commission of Inquiry within the commencement of the sitting of the Commission.

SC Isah Ndamaka who could not control his tears while testifying admitted that he took responsibility of the unfortunate incident and tendered his apology to the bereaved parents and the people of the State for the death of the Miners in the custody where he was heading as officer in-charge of the detention facility.

“ An error is already committed. I’m very sorry Sir,for the death of the miners under my custody. It is unfortunate that this happened under my watch.

“I’m pained and it is very unfortunate it happened,I’m very sorry I
admitted my mistake” Isah Ndamaka told the Commission in an emotional laden tune

He maintained that the fear of being overpowered by detainees prevented him from opening the cell door despite hearing their screaming and shouting while in the cell as a result of their overcrowding and heat in their cell.

Ndamaka apologised to the bereaved families and the Niger State Government over his actions, describing them as a grave mistake.

According to him, the detainees arrived late in the evening amid a heavy downpour, while the need to separate the male and female suspects made it difficult to accommodate them in the available cells as efforts to transfer some of them to old command failed as they were rejected by the mining Marshal.

Head of Investigation unit Chief Superintendent of Corps Sunday Oluwadere also told the Commission that on the arrest of the late miners,he profiled and investigated them and seizure of some exhibits was made.

Responding to a question from the Niger State head of the Nigeria Legal Aid Council (NLAC),Mrs Bolanle Jibogun Esq, CSC Dare Sunday admitted that he was very sorry for his shortcomings

Earlier Chief Consultant Pathologist at the General Hospital, Minna, Doctor Alfa Sule, told the Commission that he informed security personnel of the need to conduct post-mortem examinations on the bodies of the deceased to establish the cause of their death.

He added that conducting the post-mortem examinations required the approval of a coroner, and the deceased family consent for samples to be taken for toxicology and histology for forensic laboratory reference in Lagos.

The outcome of the postmortem examination is expected after the forensic laboratory reference which is said to be available in two weeks.

By George Mgbeleke
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to extend the tenures of the heads of the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service by 18 months, warning that the move could undermine institutional growth, block career progression and fuel suspicions of nepotism.

HURIWA says the Federal Government should allow serving heads of paramilitary agencies to leave office when their tenures expire and give qualified officers within the services the opportunity to take over.

The association argues that repeatedly extending the tenures of serving chiefs discourages innovation, weakens succession planning and demoralises officers who have spent years building their careers in anticipation of promotion to leadership positions.

President Tinubu approved the extensions for the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, and the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kemi Nanna Nandap.

Under the arrangement, Nwakuche will remain in office until May 26, 2028, while Nandap’s tenure will end on June 30, 2028.

The presidency said the extensions followed a recommendation by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to address a succession gap and give the governing boards of the two agencies sufficient time to appoint successors.

However, HURIWA says the explanation raises questions about the government’s preparedness for leadership transitions and its commitment to established service rules.

The association insists that the government should prepare successors ahead of time rather than extend the tenures of incumbents after their expected exit dates.

HURIWA: No officer is indispensable

HURIWA says Nigeria has enough competent and well-trained personnel to sustain the leadership of its correctional and immigration services without resorting to prolonged tenure extensions.

The association urges the Interior Minister to identify qualified officers within the services and facilitate a transparent succession process.

It adds that, where an urgent leadership gap arises, the government could explore lawful interim arrangements, including the deployment of qualified professional military officers where the relevant laws permit, pending the appointment of substantive heads.

HURIWA warns that keeping serving chiefs in office beyond their established tenures could stall promotions, frustrate deserving officers and create the impression that advancement in public service depends more on privileged access than merit.

The association says continuity should not become an excuse for weakening institutional rules, adding that no public officer should be treated as indispensable.

HURIWA raises nepotism concerns

HURIWA says repeated tenure extensions across security and paramilitary institutions under the Tinubu administration risk fuelling suspicions of favouritism and nepotism, particularly when the government fails to provide sufficiently transparent explanations for its decisions.

The association calls on the Federal Government to clarify the legal basis for the extensions and demonstrate that they comply with the laws and regulations governing the two services.

It stresses that the government must apply service rules consistently and ensure that decisions affecting senior appointments do not unfairly disadvantage other qualified officers.

HURIWA says public institutions cannot develop strong succession systems if the government repeatedly changes leadership timelines to retain incumbents instead of allowing established processes to produce their successors.

HURIWA demands transparent succession

The association calls on the Minister of Interior to strengthen succession planning and ensure that qualified officers are prepared to assume leadership before serving chiefs complete their tenures.

It also urges the government to protect the career progression of senior personnel and make leadership appointments through transparent, merit-based procedures.

HURIWA maintains that effective governance requires strong institutions, predictable rules and orderly transitions rather than arrangements that could create uncertainty or perceptions of preferential treatment.

The association says the Tinubu administration must demonstrate that its decisions on public appointments serve institutional interests and national development rather than the interests of individual officeholders.

HURIWA reiterates that no officer is indispensable and that the strength of any public institution lies in its ability to develop capable successors and sustain effective leadership without compromising established rules.

By George Mgbeleke

Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to urgently tackle erosion in Obogoro community, Bayelsa State, through shoreline protection.

The resolution followed a motion titled “Urgent need to save Obogoro community from extinction” sponsored by Senator Benson Kombowei (APC Bayelsa Central).

Presenting the motion, Kombowei said possession of land is essential for any community to preserve identity, livelihood, culture and communal life.

He warned that Obogoro people “are in serious danger of losing their ancestral land and their communal life as a result of an aggressive erosion that has persisted for decades.”

According to him, the erosion has caused loss of lives, property and livelihoods over the years.

He listed recent losses to include about 300 people rendered homeless, public primary school buildings and field washed away, youth corps lodge and community playground destroyed, and several persons drowned.

Kombowei said the community has persistently sought help from government, including petitions to the National Assembly and oil companies operating in the area, without solution.

“The people of Obogoro community feel neglected and abandoned, and left to confront their life-threatening challenge,” he said.

He noted that erosion worsens during annual floods when river levels rise and flow faster, eating up land and shrinking the homeland.

Adopting the motion, the Senate called on the Federal Government to urgently provide shoreline protection to save Obogoro from extinction.

It also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to victims of flooding and erosion in the community while asking the leadership of the Red Chamber to ensure compliance with the resolution by the government.