Bago Orders Probe Into Deaths of 37 Suspected Miners in NSCDC Custody

By Daniel Ebi ,Minna

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has ordered a thorough investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Minna.

Bago, who spoke during a media briefing in Minna, described the incident as tragic and unacceptable, assuring the families of the deceased that the government would establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

He said the state government had constituted a committee of inquiry, while separate investigations had been launched by relevant security agencies.

The governor also disclosed that the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC and other personnel connected with the incident had been suspended to allow for an impartial investigation.

“This morning, we woke up to the sad news that 37 miners died in NSCDC custody in Minna. We are saddened because, no matter what happened, the life of a human being is sacred,” he said.

Bago said the NSCDC Commandant-General, who is currently out of the country, had delegated his deputy to represent him, adding that the state government had already met with the senior official.

He said the investigation would be comprehensive enough to determine what actually happened, stressing that the government would not allow the matter to be swept under the carpet.

“Lives of human beings are lives of human beings. Such an unjust government will not tolerate any kind of injustice, and we are going to make sure that we probe this thing deeply until we get to the root of this,” he said.

The governor, however, cautioned against speculation over the cause of the deaths, saying no official cause had been established.

He said investigators were considering several possibilities, including suffocation arising from overcrowding in the detention facility and exposure to hazardous substances associated with illegal mining.

“There is no official root cause of these deaths yet. It is too early for anybody to draw a conclusion on the root causes,” Bago said.

He added that forensic examinations, medical assessments and autopsies were being conducted to establish the scientific cause of death.

The governor said the state government was also compiling a register of the deceased to identify and contact their families, assuring the relatives that government would engage with them and provide necessary support.

He appealed to youths and other residents to remain calm and refrain from violence or taking the law into their own hands.

Bago said the movement of the bodies to the mortuary had heightened emotions among youths, but warned that violence would neither bring back the dead nor resolve the situation.

“We are calling on all the youth to please stay away from violence. It is not going to bring about those that have died. It will rather cost us a lot at the end of the day,” he said.

As part of measures following the incident, the governor announced the closure of activities at the illegal mining site in the M.I Wushishi area.

He expressed concern over mining activities carried out without appropriate technology, safety equipment and protective gear, which he said could expose workers to dangerous conditions.

Bago assured that appropriate action would be taken after the various investigations establish the facts.

He said the state government would continue to coordinate with the NSCDC, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and other relevant authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ensure that necessary steps were taken.

The NSCDC had earlier constituted a high-powered investigative team to examine the circumstances of the deaths, including the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, their period in custody, detention conditions and medical attention provided.

The Federal Government has also suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of a full investigation.