President Bola Tinubu has directed that any government official found responsible for the deaths of suspected illegal miners in Niger State should be prosecuted.
The directive followed the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
The suspects were arrested during enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state on September 15 and 16.
The Federal Government has ordered investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, while the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, was suspended by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The government said the investigation would establish what happened to the detainees, including their condition when they were arrested, the conditions under which they were held and the medical attention they received.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government would not shield anyone found culpable.
“There will be no attempt to shield anyone found culpable. At the same time, we mustn’t prejudge the outcome of the investigation,” Idris said.
He said the government’s responsibility was to establish the facts and ensure that justice was served.
The NSCDC has also constituted an investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The corps said the cause of death had not been established and cautioned against attributing the deaths to any particular disease before medical and laboratory examinations are completed.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, separately deployed a team to Niger State to investigate the incident and determine the facts surrounding the deaths.
The Federal Government said enforcement operations against illegal mining must be carried out within the law and with respect for human life and dignity.
