Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has ordered a full investigation into the deaths of about 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna.
Bago, who spoke during a media chat in Minna, described the deaths as tragic and unacceptable, saying the state government had constituted a committee of inquiry while relevant security agencies had commenced separate investigations.
He also disclosed that the NSCDC Commandant in Niger State and his team had been suspended to allow for an impartial investigation.
“The government has immediately set up a committee of inquiry and we have started work,” Bago stated.
The governor said the investigation would establish what happened to the detainees, stressing that the matter would not be ignored.
According to him, “Lives of human beings are lives of human beings. Such an unjust government will not tolerate any kind of injustice, and we are going to make sure that we probe this thing deeply until we get to the root of this.”
Bago, however, cautioned against speculating on the cause of death, saying forensic examinations, medical assessments and autopsies were being conducted.
“There is no official root cause of these deaths yet. It is too early for anybody to draw a conclusion on the root causes,” he said.
He said possible causes being examined included suffocation arising from overcrowding in the detention facility and exposure to hazardous substances allegedly associated with illegal mining.
The governor added that the government was compiling a register of the deceased to identify their families and provide necessary support.
He also appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid violence, warning that protests or reprisals would not bring back the deceased.
Bago stated, “We are calling on all the youth to please stay away from violence. It is not going to bring about those that have died. It will rather cost us a lot at the end of the day”.
The governor also announced the closure of activities at the illegal mining site in Ema Ushishi, citing concerns over miners operating without adequate technology, safety equipment and protective gear.
He said the state government would await the outcome of the investigations before taking further action, assuring the families of the deceased that the government would engage with them.
Bago suspends Niger NSCDC command, probes deaths of 37 miners