Niger State miners deaths in NSCDC custody
37 suspected illegal miners died while in NSCDC custody in Minna, Niger State.
Niger State Governor Umar Bago confirmed the deaths and said the state government had constituted a committee of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The deceased were among people arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining in the state.
According to Channels Television, the detainees were being held at an NSCDC facility in Minna when the deaths occurred. The exact cause of death has not been established and remains subject to investigation.
The NSCDC Niger State Commandant and other officials were suspended to allow investigations to proceed. The NSCDC has also directed that personnel found to have breached the law or professional standards face appropriate sanctions.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths. He directed that the inquiry examine the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees, the conditions in which they were held, the medical attention provided and the events leading to their deaths.
The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has also deployed a team of experts to Niger State to investigate the deaths and produce a report. Governor Bago said it was too early to draw a conclusion about the cause of the deaths.
Protests were reported in parts of Minna following the deaths, while authorities appealed for calm as investigations continue.
EBN TV will continue to monitor developments as authorities work to establish what happened and determine accountability where necessary.
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