Don’t politicise deaths of 37 miners – Niger CSOs urge political parties

Civil society organisations in Niger State have called on political parties to refrain from politicising the deaths of 37 miners who died in custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The groups, representing various civil society organisations, emphasised that the tragedy should be treated as a human rights, accountability, and justice issue.

They warned against "weaponisation" of the incident and urged for credible investigations to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and identify those responsible. The organisations also highlighted the need for justice, protection of the rights of the deceased and their families, and measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

They called for support for the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, urging witnesses, survivors, families, and the public to submit credible memoranda to the panel. Additionally, they cautioned against premature media trials and political interference, urging authorities to address the underlying factors that drive young people to engage in unsafe artisanal mining practices.

The organisations praised Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago's response to the incident, including the establishment of a nine-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry and the declaration of three days of mourning. They stressed that the deaths of the 'Minna 37' should serve as a catalyst for justice, accountability, and institutional reform, rather than exacerbate partisan divisions in Niger State.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Post Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.