Some of the State Commandants of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are being forced to obtain bank loans due to the pressure to meet up with monthly remittances to the Commandant General, Abubakar Audi as kickback to keep their positions, TheHintsNews has learnt.
It was gathered that the tragic death of 37 artisanal miners who died in the custody of NSCDC in Minna, Niger state may not be unconnected with the pressure on the shoulders of the State Commandants to meet up with monthly remittances.
TheHintsNews reports that following the tragic incident, the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo constituted a ten-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 people.
The action followed a directive by President Bola Tinubu for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Thursday, 17 September 2026.
The minister also directed the suspension of all officers involved in the incident pending the conclusion of the independent committee’s investigation, while the State commandant, Suberu Aniviye has been suspended and replaced while the incident is investigated.
One of the surviving detainees among the suspected illegal miners arrested by the NSCDC in Niger state had alleged that 65 people were crammed into one cell before operatives sprayed a substance inside and locked the door.
However, fresh facts have emerged that lack of training of personnel and the pressure to meet up with monthly remittances to the Commandant General by the State Commandants may have led to the arrest of the miners.
One of the State Commandants who pleaded anonymity told TheHintsNews that some State Commandants remit between N2 million, N5 million and N10 million to Audi every month.
The source added that the amount to be remitted depends on the economic viability of the state.
The source stated: “I blame the tragedy on lack of training. The money meant for the training of personnel is being embezzled. Whenever there is training, letters would be sent to state Commandants to nominate four persons for training. The State commandant will pay the transportation fare of the personnel going for training.
“However, on getting to the training venue, the personnel would be asked to pay N50,000 for the training and certificates, whereas there is a budgetary provision for that. Because of that many people have decided to avoid the training. Once you do not train people, you can’t expect the best from them.”
Asked if that has been the tradition since the establishment of the security outfit, the State Commandant said it was not so during the leadership of former Civil Defence Commandant General, Dr. Ade Abolurin and his successor, Abdulahi Gana.
The source explained that under the leadership of Abolurin, some personnel were even trained outside the country with all expenses paid by the Corps, while those that were trained in the country enjoyed the same privileges.
The State commandant added that under the same Abolurin, personnel were trained four times in a year, adding that it was the same under Gana.
However, he added that the tradition changed since Audi came on board, saying it was even a surprise that despite the fact that he would retire in the next year, his tenure was renewed by the Bola Tinubu administration.
Though, the source stressed that the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Feni Gbajabiamila and the son of the president, Seyi Tinubu were rumoured to have influenced the renewal of the tenure of Audi.
The source stated: “During the tenure of Gana, it was not like that, during the tenure of Abolurin, we really enjoyed it. Abolurin trained people outside the country.
“All the State Commandants, depending on the resources at their disposal, there are those Audi collects N5 million from them every month, there are those he collects N2 million and there are those he collects N10 million every month as remittances.
“It is possible that his remittance for this month was not complete yet, which led to the arrest of the artisanal miners.”
It would be recalled that families of the deceased miners said they were asked to bring N50,000 each to secure their release before their tragic death.
The source lamented that there are also experienced hands that should have been given the opportunity to become state Commandants but were left floating because they believe some of them won’t agree to be paying the monthly remittances.
According to the source, We have old Commandants that are still languishing in zones. He (Audi) is aware that the old Commandants may not have agreed to remit money monthly. But those that will remit and play the game according to the rule, those he can easily controlled are the ones given the opportunity to become State Commandants.
“Those three things can lead to this. Those that you did not train can lead to this. People that are not well experienced can lead to that and monthly remittance.
“Some state Commandants even borrow money from banks to be able to meet the target for their monthly remittance, because they want to retain their position.”
The source added that the embattled state Commandant in Niger is from Kogi state, and the one in Ogun, Osun and Kano states are all from Kogi.
The source revealed that one of Audi’s wives is Ebira from Kogi state and has been the one influencing the promotion of people from Kogi as State Commandants.
Ideally, the source explained that each state is supposed to have a Commandant, adding that the favoritism within the service has dampened the morale of personnel.
“Some of the ACGs do not have official vehicles and these are the things they budgeted for and he collected the money.”
“A lot of atrocities are going on there. I don’t know why they are no beaming searchlights there. Someone said it is Gbajabiamila that is pushing for him, somebody said it is Seyi Tinubu, if not, he wouldn’t have been given the five years extension because he would be 60 years by September, 30 2027. And that extension is stagnating people.
“If they have allowed him to go now, he would have gone with some of the DCGs and people will move up.”
The source said the embattled Commandant might likely lose his job, or he would be demoted.
All efforts to get Audi and the NSCDC Public Relations Officers, Babawale Afolabi proved abortive as they refused to respond to messages sent to them to respond to the allegations.