37 miners’ death: IGP Disu visits Niger, vows full investigation

Inspector-General of Police, IGP Rilwan Disu, recently visited Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago in Minna to pledge a comprehensive investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps custody. Disu described the incident as tragic and assured the governor that the police would exhaust all efforts to determine the cause of the fatalities.

He emphasized that deaths in custody are a serious matter, particularly given the number of victims, and that the police would collaborate with the state government and other agencies in the investigation. Governor Bago described the incident as "very sad and disturbing," noting that the suspects were arrested at a mining site before the fatal incident.

He stated that preliminary autopsy observations included skin peeling and foaming from the mouths of some of the deceased, but cautioned against premature conclusions on the cause of death, citing ongoing investigations into overcrowding and potential exposure to poisonous substances associated with mining activities. A state investigative committee, including representatives from the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army, and a separate committee from the Federal Ministry of Mines, have been constituted to examine the incident.

Soil samples from the mining site will also be collected to determine if hazardous substances were present. Mining activities at the affected site have been banned, and mining across the state has been temporarily suspended pending the outcome of the investigations. Following the incident, a 6pm-to-6am curfew was announced across Niger State due to reported attacks on public and private properties. Governor Bago urged residents to remain calm and obey the directive.