The Federal Government has inaugurated the panel set up to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners arrested by the Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State
The miners, who died between Thursday and Friday, were locked up in a tiny cell were they were reportedly suffocated to death
President Bola Tinubu had lamented over the incident and directed investigation
Subsequently, the Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths.
The Minister also directed the suspension of all officers involved in the incident pending the conclusion of the independent committee’s investigation
Describing the deaths as deeply disturbing, the Minister said the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the events leading to the incident
The independent committee was asked to establish the identities of the deceased, and investigate their arrests, detention and the cause and circumstances of their deaths
The Minister directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence, and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence
The Minister also directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the Committee, while further directing that all records and material evidence connected to the incident be preserved and made available to the investigators
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” he warned
Members of the Committee are:
1Mr Jonathan Kure, mni, retired Deputy Director-General, Department of State Services, as Chairman
2Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, as Secretary
3AIG Hosea Hassan Karma (retired)
4Prof. Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital
5Representative of the Minna Emirate Council
6Representative of the Niger State Government
7Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary, Miners Association of Nigeria
8Mr Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist
9Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper
10 Dr. George Agbakahi, Public Affairs Analyst.
Tunji-Ojo inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Tuesday It has two weeks to complete its work and submit its report to the Minister.