Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who were detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
Gatekeepers News reports that Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the panel on Saturday, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident.
The 37 people reportedly died after they were arrested during NSCDC operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities in Minna on September 15 and 16. The NSCDC had earlier said scores of detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17 following a suspected disease outbreak.
The government has also suspended 20 NSCDC officers in connection with the incident, in addition to the Niger State Commandant, who had earlier been suspended. The officers include personnel involved in the arrests, investigation, intelligence, legal duties and those assigned to guard the detainees.
The committee, chaired by retired DSS Deputy Director-General Jonathan Kure, is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrests, detention, as well as the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
It will also determine whether there was responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable and measures to prevent a recurrence.
Tunji-Ojo said the deaths were “deeply disturbing” and stressed that the government owed the families of the deceased and the public a transparent account of what happened.
The minister also directed the NSCDC and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the investigation and ordered that all records and material evidence relating to the incident be preserved.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” he warned.
The committee has two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report to the minister. It may also invite additional experts, access relevant facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and receive memoranda from members of the public.
The development comes amid protests in Minna over the deaths. Niger State Governor Umaru Bago subsequently imposed a 24-hour curfew in the state capital, while forensic examinations, medical examinations and autopsies were being conducted to establish the scientific cause of the deaths.
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has also assured the Niger State Government that the police will conduct a thorough investigation and said the force had secured the scene to preserve evidence.
