Bago: NSCDC Officials Are Unprofessional

Governor Alhaji Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State criticized the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officials who handled the case of the 37 dead illegal miners as being unprofessional. The governor made this statement on Tuesday when he welcomed officials from the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) at the Government House.

Bago expressed regret over the deaths, stating that they could have been prevented, attributing the lack of professionalism among the officers as the cause. He promised to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. Bago also appealed for unity among the state's diverse ethnic groups and religious communities, assuring that his administration would treat all residents equally.

He urged religious leaders to discourage children from engaging in artisanal mining and to encourage them to pursue education, as basic education is free in the state. Earlier, the CAN chairman, represented by his deputy, voiced condolences to the families of the deceased and to the state government and people. He commended the government for setting up a committee to investigate the case and advised that its report be implemented to assure the public that the government was not involved in the incident.

The CAN chairman praised the governor's efforts in state development and his support for the Christian community. The former CAN chairman offered a special prayer for the souls of the deceased and for continued peace in the state.