Atiku Offers Scholarship to Young Miner Who Spoke on 37 Deaths in NSCDC Custody

By Ene Rebecca

September 20, 2026

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has offered to support the education of Yusuf Aliyu, a young artisanal miner whose video discussing the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has gained widespread attention.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said he had watched Aliyu’s video several times and was impressed by the young miner’s intelligence, confidence and clarity. He said Aliyu should be in school preparing for his future rather than engaging in mining to survive in a community rich in gold but affected by poverty.

“I cannot look at him and see an ‘illegal miner.’ I see a Nigerian child failed by the country that should have protected him,” Atiku said.

He also expressed concern about Aliyu’s safety, urging that the young miner and his family be protected from possible intimidation or retaliation over his comments. Atiku said any attempt to reach Aliyu should be made through his family and appropriate child-protection channels.

The former vice president also questioned the continued poverty and limited opportunities in communities endowed with mineral resources. He criticised the Federal Government’s handling of artisanal mining and asked for clarification on the status of the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI), established under former President Muhammadu Buhari to formalise artisanal mining.

The deaths occurred after suspected illegal miners were arrested during NSCDC operations in Niger State. Niger State Governor Umaru Bago confirmed that 37 detainees had died in NSCDC custody, while authorities said investigations and medical examinations were being conducted to determine the cause of the deaths.

The Federal Government subsequently suspended the Niger State NSCDC commandant and other officers linked to the incident and established an independent committee to investigate the deaths. Atiku said the incident should also prompt wider consideration of poverty, conditions in mining communities and the protection of children in resource-rich areas.