Former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has denied claims that he owns or has any connection to the gold-mining site in Niger State where 37 suspected illegal miners were arrested before dying in NSCDC custody.

Babangida, popularly known as IBB, described the allegation as “false, baseless and completely without foundation” through his representative, Dr Danladi Umar Abdulhameed.

The denial followed a claim by a survivor, Malam Babawo Tudun Nasera, who said the mining site belonged to Babangida

Nasera made the claim while recounting the arrest of the miners, including his 17-year-old brother, Salim, who later died in custody.

According to the survivor, authorities had ordered the miners to stop working at the site despite an alleged instruction from the owner that mining should When asked whether Babangida had instructed the miners to continue working, Nasera said:

“Yes, he said we should continue working.”

However, the ownership claim has not been independently established, and it remains unclear whether Nasera was referring to ownership of the mining operation, a mining lease, the land or another form of connection to the site.

IBB rejects allegation

Responding to the report, Babangida, through Abdulhameed, categorically denied any connection to the mining operation.

“My attention has been drawn to a publication on your platform alleging that the mining site where illegal miners were arrested belongs to General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, GCFR.

“This allegation is false, baseless and completely without foundation.”