The Federal Government has inaugurated an independent panel to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
First Daily recalls that the deceased reportedly died between Thursday and Friday after being detained in a small cell at an NSCDC facility in the state.
The incident prompted President Bola Tinubu to order a full investigation, following concerns over the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Acting on the President’s directive, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, constituted a 10-member independent committee to establish what happened and determine whether any individual or institution bears responsibility.
Tunji-Ojo formally inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Tuesday, September 22, and gave it two weeks to conclude its investigation and submit its report to him.
The Minister also ordered the suspension of all officers allegedly involved in the incident pending the outcome of the investigation.
READ ALSO: Niger Miners’ Deaths: Government Probe Will Be A Cover-Up, Rufai Oseni Says
Describing the deaths as deeply disturbing, Tunji-Ojo said the government had a responsibility to provide the families of the deceased and Nigerians with a clear account of how the incident occurred.
The committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and examine the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention.
It will also investigate the immediate and underlying causes of the deaths and determine whether there was any responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct on the part of individuals or authorities involved.
Beyond establishing what happened, the committee is expected to recommend appropriate sanctions or other actions, compensation where applicable, as well as measures to prevent a recurrence.
Tunji-Ojo directed the leadership of the NSCDC and all relevant officers to provide full cooperation to the investigators.
He further ordered that all documents, records and physical or other material evidence connected to the incident be preserved and made available to the committee.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” he warned.
The committee is chaired by Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), while Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as secretary.
Other members of the committee are:
1. AIG Hosea Hassan Karma (retired);
2. Professor Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital;
3. A representative of the Minna Emirate Council;
4. A representative of the Niger State Government;
5. Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary, Miners Association of Nigeria;
6. Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist;
7. Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and
8. Dr George Agbakahi, Public Affairs Analyst.
The committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the Minister of Interior within two weeks.