Falana urges prosecution of suspects linked to 37 miners’ deaths

Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has urged the Attorney-General of Niger State to swiftly investigate and prosecute those responsible for the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody. Falana, in a recent statement, urged the Attorney-General, Nasiru Mu'azu, to direct relevant authorities to probe the circumstances surrounding the deaths and hold accountable any personnel or individuals indicted by the investigation.

The deaths occurred after scores of people, including some teenagers, were arrested during raids on illegal mining sites and detained at an NSCDC facility in Minna. A 10-member independent committee has been set up to investigate the incident, and officers linked to it have been suspended. Falana emphasized that the Attorney-General should ensure a speedy investigation and immediate prosecution of indicted suspects, highlighting that the incident reflects longstanding concerns over the treatment of suspects in detention facilities across the country.