Niger miners’ death: Families will get justice – FG vows as probe committee inaugurated

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that the federal government will ensure that the tragic death of illegal miners in Niger State does not repeat itself. This came during the inauguration of a 10-man independent committee tasked to probe the incident where 37 miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Tunji-Ojo made the assurance in Abuja, stressing that the committee would be independent of him and other officials. He outlined 12 mandates for the committee, including identifying the deceased, determining the cause of their death, investigating the arrest and detention procedures, examining the legality and suitability of the detention facility, checking for any acts of torture or inhumane treatment, and recommending appropriate actions against any found guilty.

The minister emphasized that the committee must remain free from any interference, stressing that the country cannot tolerate such incidents happening again. The committee is to interview all relevant parties, review medical and autopsy reports, detention records, and other relevant documents to determine individual or institutional culpability, and recommend disciplinary, administrative, or legal actions.