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

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.

By our correspondent

The Department of State Services (DSS) on tuesday, october, 20, 2026, arraigned five suspects who allegedly kidnapped the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members along the Owerri-Onitsha road Imo state

According to the charge sheet, the three primary suspects, were Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu, and Mohammed Alli

These prime suspects, however pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of abduction and hostage-taking, collection of a N48 million ransom and dollars, and illegal possession of firearms.

The other two suspects, Aminu Haliru and Ibrahim Jiji, were charged with conspiracy and hostage-taking, as well as illegal possession of firearms.

The charge sheet also said that these suspects were accused of abducting Winner Ogidi, Opara Timothy, Ogechi Henrietta, and one other person on October 4, 2026. They also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, Ekezie Nwauzo, filed a motion seeking to keep the suspects in DSS custody, which was granted by Hon. Justice Emeka Orafu, who presided over the court.

Nnaemeka Adipuo represented the first and second defendants in the corps members’ abduction case, while Paschal Ofoma appeared for the third defendant.

The cases were adjourned to Thursday, October 22, and Tuesday through Thursday, October 27–29, for hearing.

Recall that about 20 corps members were reportedly abducted on October 1 along the Owerri-Onitsha road while traveling to NYSC orientation camps in Akwa Ibom and Abia States. They were released after about six days in captivity and subsequently reunited with their families.

Speaking to journalists after the court session, defence counsel Nnamdi Adipuo and Paschal Ofoma noted that the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Show quoted text