Tinubu, Bago, NHRC React to 37 Miners’ Deaths in NSCDC Custody

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna, Niger State.

President Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the deaths constituted a grave matter requiring urgent investigation and accountability.

The President said every Nigerian’s life matters and that no citizen should lose his life in government custody through negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty.

Tinubu said although the Federal Government would continue its campaign against illegal mining and other criminal activities, enforcement operations must be carried out within the law and with full respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of persons in custody.

He stressed that being suspected of illegal mining did not deprive the detainees of their right to life, dignity and humane treatment.

The President directed that the investigation should establish the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the conditions in which they were detained, the number of persons held in the facility, the medical attention provided and the events leading to the deaths.

Tinubu further directed the Ministry of Interior and the NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with investigators and ensure that no officer interfered with the process or frustrated efforts to establish the truth.

He said the suspension of officers was only an administrative measure and should not prevent criminal prosecution where evidence establishes responsibility.

The President said any official found to have contributed to the deaths through action, abuse or negligence should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm among the affected families and communities, assuring them that the Federal Government would pursue the truth and take appropriate action based on credible evidence.

Tinubu said, “We must never allow the pursuit of one form of illegality to create another,” adding that while government must enforce the law, it must also obey the law.

He described the sanctity of human life as non-negotiable.

The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had earlier ordered a full-scale, transparent and unhindered investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Tunji-Ojo directed the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to investigate the incident and said the commandant under whose watch the deaths occurred would remain suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

The minister described the incident as unfortunate and said the government’s priority was the protection of lives.

Following the directive, the NSCDC Commandant General ordered the Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, to step aside and report to the corps’ national headquarters in Abuja before the investigative panel.

The Heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence and Investigation in the Niger State Command were also directed to report to the panel, while a new commandant was ordered to assume immediate command of the state.

The NSCDC said personnel found to have breached the law, established procedures or professional standards would face appropriate administrative, disciplinary and, where applicable, criminal sanctions.

The corps also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of persons in its custody.

The 37 suspected miners were arrested during enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis between September 15 and 16.

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, subsequently confirmed that 37 detainees had died in NSCDC custody.

Bago described the deaths as sad and tragic and said the state government had constituted a committee of inquiry to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The governor said forensic, medical examinations and autopsies were being conducted to establish the scientific cause of the deaths.

He appealed for calm, saying the exact cause of the deaths had not been established.

The governor later imposed a 24-hour curfew in Minna following protests and destruction of property linked to the deaths.

The curfew took effect immediately after Friday Jumu’ah prayers and was announced as a measure to restore calm following unrest in parts of the state capital.

According to the state government, protesters vandalised public and private property, including a state transport facility, a bank, political party offices and other businesses.

Bago urged residents to remain calm and allow the investigation into the deaths to proceed.

Reports said security personnel were deployed to parts of Minna as protests were reported in areas including Tunga, Maitumbi and Bosso Road.

Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, also visited Niger State Government House in Minna, where he met Governor Bago and commiserated with the state government over the deaths.

The police have also been involved in efforts to restore order following the protests that erupted over the incident.

A survivor of the incident, identified as Dauda Shehu, gave an account of what happened inside the detention facility.

Shehu told journalists that the detainees were packed into an overcrowded cell with inadequate ventilation and that they struggled to breathe.

He said the detainees repeatedly called for assistance and banged on the cell door after some people began collapsing.

Shehu also alleged that an unidentified substance was sprayed inside the cell after the detainees were locked in, after which people began falling down.

Another survivor, who did not disclose his name, said he survived because he was close to the entrance of the cell, where he was able to access more air.

The accounts have not established the medical cause of death, which remains subject to investigation and medical examination.

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has also commenced a preliminary investigation into the deaths.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, condemned the deaths and said the investigation would establish the circumstances surrounding them.

The commission said the rights of persons in custody must be protected irrespective of the allegations against them, stressing the importance of determining the cause of death through an independent and transparent process.

The NHRC investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the arrests, detention conditions and events surrounding the deaths.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also appealed for calm in Wushishi and across Niger State.

Idris conveyed the Federal Government’s condolences to the Niger State Government, traditional leaders, the Wushishi community and the families of the deceased.

He said the protection of the lives, dignity and fundamental rights of Nigerians remained a responsibility of government and assured the public that the circumstances surrounding the deaths would be thoroughly and transparently investigated.

The minister said the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC commandant was among the immediate steps taken while the investigation proceeds.

He also cautioned against prejudging the outcome of the inquiry, saying government would establish the facts and take appropriate action based on the findings.

“There will be no attempt to shield anyone found culpable,” Idris said, while urging residents and other stakeholders to allow the investigation to proceed without interference.

The deaths have consequently triggered investigations at federal and state levels, the suspension of senior NSCDC officials, protests in Minna and the imposition of a curfew as authorities seek to establish what led to the deaths of the 37 suspected illegal miners.

The scientific cause of death remains officially unestablished, while the various accounts and allegations surrounding the detention facility are expected to form part of the ongoing investigations.