By George Omagbemi
Former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd.), popularly known as IBB, has denied any connection with the 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).
The denial followed a claim by a survivor, Malam Babawo Tudun Nasera, who reportedly identified Babangida as the alleged owner of the mining site while recounting the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the miners.
According to reports, Nasera said authorities had wanted the miners to stop working at the site, despite an alleged instruction from the owner that mining activities should continue. When asked who owned the site, he reportedly answered, “It belongs to Babangida,” and later clarified that he meant the former military ruler.
However, Babangida, through his representative, Dr Danladi Umar Abdulhameed, strongly rejected the allegation.
Abdulhameed described the claim as “false, baseless and completely without foundation,” insisting that Babangida had no connection whatsoever with the mining operation.
The ownership claim has not been independently established from the evidence currently available. It also remains unclear whether the survivor was referring to ownership of the land, a mining licence, the mining operation or another form of association.
The controversy comes as authorities investigate the deaths of the 37 detainees, whose deaths have triggered public outrage and calls for accountability.
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