PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
Tinubu, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, September 17, said the life of every Nigerian mattered and that no citizen should die in government custody because of negligence, abuse or inhumane treatment.
Tinubu also said the government would continue to tackle illegal mining and other criminal activities but insisted that enforcement operations must be conducted within the law.
“While the Federal Government would continue to combat illegal mining and other criminal activities across the country, enforcement operations must be conducted strictly within the law and with full respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of every person in custody,” he said.
The president said the allegations against the detainees did not remove their right to life and humane treatment while in government custody.
“The fact that these individuals were suspected of illegal mining does not in any way remove their right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody,” Tinubu said.
He stressed that government would not tolerate mass deaths resulting from negligence or failure by public officials to protect people placed in their care.
“Government will not tolerate mass deaths arising from official negligence, dereliction of duty or failure by public officials to protect the lives placed under their care,” he said.
Tinubu directed that the investigation should cover the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the conditions in which they were held, the number of people detained at the facility and the medical attention provided to them.
He also directed investigators to establish the events that preceded the deaths.
The president said the suspension of officers should not be considered a substitute for determining whether criminal responsibility existed.
“The suspension of officers is only an administrative step and must not substitute for a proper determination of criminal responsibility where the evidence warrants prosecution,” he noted.
Tinubu directed the Ministry of Interior and the NSCDC leadership to cooperate with all relevant investigative authorities and ensure that no officer interfered with the investigation.
He 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.
“Where the investigation establishes that any official, through action, abuse or negligence, contributed to these deaths, such an officer must be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. There must be accountability,” he said.
The president extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm among communities affected by the tragedy.
He assured them that the Federal Government would pursue the truth and take appropriate action based on credible evidence.
Tinubu’s directive followed the deaths of the suspected miners, including minors and other young people, who were arrested during enforcement operations around the Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.
The NSCDC had said the detainees died following a suspected disease outbreak, but the circumstances surrounding their deaths have triggered public outrage and calls for an independent probe.
The victims were arrested at mining sites between September 15 and 16.
The deaths triggered protests in Minna, with residents and relatives of some of the victims demanding answers over the circumstances surrounding the fatalities. The ICIR reported the state government as imposing a 24-hour curfew in Minna.
Following the incident, the Federal Government suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of investigations.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M