Tinubu orders prosecution of officials linked to Niger miners’ deaths

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has dispatched a specialized team to Niger State to investigate the deaths of individuals suspected of illegal mining who perished while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Alake conveyed this decision in a statement made on Friday, alongside his expressions of sorrow to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the families of the deceased.

The minister assured that the team would conduct a comprehensive examination of the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish the true facts of the incident. Alake conveyed his condolences, commending Governor Bago for declaring a period of mourning and establishing an investigative framework. He emphasized the necessity for a transparent and unbiased inquiry to ensure accountability and forestall similar incidents in detention and correctional facilities.

The minister explained that the deaths involved individuals allegedly apprehended on suspicion of illegal mining activities. The team's deployment was prompted by reports originating from Niger State, where the NSCDC initiated an investigation following the deaths of suspected illegal miners while they were detained. The suspects were apprehended during enforcement operations conducted in the M.I.

Wushishi/Lukoto area on September 15 and 16, 2023. Initially, reports suggested that up to 33 detainees had succumbed to illness in an NSCDC facility in Minna; however, later accounts indicated that the total death toll might be around 40. The NSCDC has not officially confirmed a definitive death count. Subsequent inquiries have revealed that the cause of death remains undetermined, pending medical and laboratory confirmation.

The NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, subsequently authorized an investigative team, led by the Deputy Commandant General responsible for Intelligence and Investigation, to scrutinize the incident's circumstances. This includes evaluating the detainees' condition at the time of arrest, the duration of their incarceration, detention conditions, and the medical care they received.

Alake affirmed that his ministry's investigation would align with other ongoing inquiries into the incident, expressing his prayers for the families impacted by the tragic event.