……. Police chief visits Niger Governor Bago, assesses affected locations as authorities probe deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody
By Rejoice Peterside
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has visited Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, assuring that the police would conduct a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Disu, who arrived at the Niger State Government House in Minna on Friday, described the incident as tragic, saying the police had a responsibility to work with the state government and other relevant authorities to unravel what led to the loss of the 37 lives. He said the investigation would be conducted without compromising the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident.
“I am here this afternoon because of the tragic incident where we lost the lives of 37 citizens of Minna and of this same great state. It is a very tragic incident, and we want to assure you, Your Excellency, that we will leave no stone unturned to unravel the situation that led to these deaths,” Disu said.
The IGP said the police would collaborate with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Niger State Government in the investigation, noting that the state government had already constituted a committee to look into the incident. According to him, the priority was to establish the facts and determine the circumstances that resulted in the deaths of the suspected miners while they were in custody.
Disu’s visit came amid heightened concern in Minna following the deaths, with the incident generating questions among residents and relatives of the deceased. Protests were also reported in the state capital after news of the deaths emerged, increasing concerns about possible tension and a breakdown of law and order.
The police chief appealed to residents to remain calm and allow the investigation to proceed, assuring them that the authorities would work to establish the truth. He said the police would not compromise the process and would ensure that the appropriate steps were taken once the circumstances surrounding the deaths were established.
“We want to assure them to be calm, that we would not compromise in ensuring that the proper thing is done to unravel the cause of this incident,” Disu said.
He also urged residents not to take the law into their own hands, stressing that the police would maintain security across the affected areas. The IGP said additional patrols would be carried out across towns in the state to prevent further escalation and ensure that residents could go about their activities without fear.
As part of his visit, Disu also inspected locations connected to the incident to obtain a first-hand assessment of the situation. The inspection formed part of the police leadership’s efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the deaths and assess the security situation in the state as investigations continue.
The deaths followed enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining activities around the Wushishi-Lukoto axis of Niger State. The suspects were taken into NSCDC custody during the operations, but 37 subsequently died, prompting investigations by state and federal authorities into what occurred between their arrest and the discovery of the deaths.
Governor Bago had earlier confirmed the deaths and said the state government had commenced forensic and medical examinations, including autopsies, to establish the cause of death. He also constituted a committee to investigate the incident as authorities sought to establish the sequence of events and determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The Federal Government has equally ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident, while the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, was suspended by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, pending the outcome of the investigation. President Bola Tinubu also directed a full and transparent investigation, ordering that any official found to have contributed to the deaths through action, abuse or negligence should be arrested and prosecuted.
The NSCDC has maintained that the cause of the deaths had not been established, with medical and forensic examinations still ongoing. The different investigative processes are expected to establish what happened to the suspects from the point of their arrest and detention to the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
With the police, NSCDC, Niger State Government and other relevant authorities now probing the incident, the outcome of the investigations is expected to provide answers to the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Disu, during his visit to Minna, reiterated the police commitment to establishing the facts while urging residents to remain calm and allow the investigative process to run its course.
