THE Federal Government has released the full list of additional 20 Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps officers suspended over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the corps’ custody in Minna, Niger State.
A statement by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Saturday, September 19, noted that the government had also constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths following President Bola Tinubu’s directive that those responsible should face prosecution where evidence establishes criminal liability.
The victims died on Thursday, September 17, after they were arrested during enforcement operations against illegal mining around the Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.
The NSCDC had said the detainees died following a suspected disease outbreak, but the deaths triggered protests in Minna, with the deceased’s relatives and residents demanding an explanation over the circumstances surrounding the fatalities.
In a statement on Friday, September 18, Tinubu ordered a full and transparent investigation into the incident, saying the fact that the victims were suspected of illegal mining did not remove their right to life and humane treatment while in government custody.
The president said the suspension of officers should not replace the determination of criminal responsibility and directed that any official whose actions, abuse or negligence contributed to the deaths should be arrested and prosecuted.
Following the directive, Tunji-Ojo announced on Saturday that the government had constituted an independent committee to investigate the incident and suspended 20 officers, in addition to the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye.
The suspended officers are: SC Usman Isah Ndamaka – Officer-in-Charge, Station Guard; ASCI Hassan Mohammed – Station Guard; CCA Bala Mohammed – Station Guard; CSC Oluwadare Sunday – Arresting Officer/Officer-in-Charge, Investigation; DCC Obafemi Elvis – Arresting Officer; CSC Annas Shitto Lamino – Arresting Officer; DCC Philip Ajayi – Head, Intelligence/Investigation; ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado – Officer-in-Charge, Legal; and ASCI Alhassan Mohammed – Day/Night Duty Officer.
Others are IC Abdullahi Sale – Guard Duty; IC Mohammed Sonfada – Guard Duty; CAI Liman Abubakar – Guard Duty; and CAI Bala Usman – Guard Duty; IC Mohammed Jiya – Guard Duty; DSC Isah Suleiman – Guard Duty; CAI Ahmed Wushishi – Guard Duty; IC Sale Adamu – Guard Duty; IC Haruna Mohammed – Guard Duty; ASCI Aliyu Sallah – Guard Duty; and CAI Isah Sanusi – Guard Duty.
The committee is chaired by Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the State Security Services, while Isa Hayatu Chiroma, a former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, will serve as secretary.
Other members are retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; a representative of the Minna Emirate Council; a representative of the Niger State Government; Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju; Blueprint Newspaper journalist Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst George Agbakahi.
The committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrests, detention and the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
It will also determine responsibility, complicity, negligence and misconduct and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable.
The committee may co-opt relevant experts, access necessary facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and request memoranda from members of the public.
It has two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report to the minister.
Tunji-Ojo directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the committee and ordered that all records and material evidence connected to the incident be preserved and made available to investigators.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” the minister warned.
Zainab Abdulrasaq ia a reporter and a fact-checker with The ICIR. She believes that accountable citizenship starts with an accountable government, which is why she highlights injustice and everyday struggles through her reporting, one story at a time. She adores reading and can be reached via zabdulrasaq@icirnigeria.org and @blackbookishgirl on Instagram/Medium
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