The federal government has ordered a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The minister of interio, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo directed the NSCDC Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to conduct a “full-scale, transparent and unhindered investigation” into the incident.
Following the directive, Audi ordered the Niger State Commandant to step aside with immediate effect and report to the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja to appear before the panel of inquiry constituted to investigate the incident.
The state commandant is to be accompanied by the Heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence and Investigation, who have also been directed to report to the panel.
Audi has also ordered a new commandant to proceed to Niger State and assume immediate command of the state command.
In a statement signed by the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, the corps said the investigation would be conducted thoroughly and that personnel found to have breached the law or established professional standards would face appropriate sanctions.
“The CG assures the Hon Minister of Interior that no stone would be left unturned in the investigation process,” the statement said.
According to the NSCDC, any officer or personnel found to have acted contrary to the law, established procedures or professional standards would face “appropriate administrative, disciplinary and, where applicable, criminal sanctions in accordance with extant laws and regulations.”
The corps also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and safety of persons in its custody.
“The NSCDC remains committed to upholding the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of every person in its custody,” the statement said.
It added that while the corps would continue to enforce its statutory mandate, including the fight against illegal mining and the protection of Nigeria’s critical national assets, such operations would be carried out in accordance with the law and established professional standards.
Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, had on Thursday confirmed that 37 suspected illegal miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna.
Bago confirmed the incident during a press conference in Minna, describing the deaths as “sad” and “tragic.”
The governor said the state government had constituted a committee of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
He confirmed that the NSCDC Commandant in Niger State and his team have been suspended to allow for a proper investigation into the incident.
“The most important is that people died in the custody of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps. They were detained in their cells, and this morning we woke up to the news that 37 of them had died,” Bago said.
The governor said the cause of the deaths had not been officially established, adding that it was too early to draw conclusions.
He said possible causes being investigated included suffocation arising from overcrowding in the detention cell and exposure to hazardous chemicals associated with illegal mining.
