President Bola Tinubu has ordered a thorough investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
Tinubu said the suspension of officers involved in the incident was only an administrative step and would not replace prosecution where evidence of wrongdoing is established.
The suspected miners were arrested during enforcement operations around the Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna, Niger State.
“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.
“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. 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.
“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,” said the president.
The Federal Government had earlier suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, in connection with the incident.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the suspension and investigation, while NSCDC Commandant General, Prof Ahmed Audi, directed Aniviye to report to the corps’ national headquarters to face a panel of inquiry.
The Heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence and Investigation were also ordered to appear before the panel. A new commandant was deployed to Niger State to take immediate control of the command.
The NSCDC admitted that the suspects died in its custody but said the cause of death has not been established.
An intelligence report shared with the Associated Press said overcrowding and poor ventilation at the detention facility may have contributed to the deaths. A survivor told AP that about 65 people were held in the cell. The claims have not been independently confirmed.
Tinubu directed that the investigation cover the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the conditions under which they were detained, the number of people held at the facility, the medical attention provided and the events leading to the deaths.
“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”, the President said.
“We must never allow the pursuit of one form of illegality to create another. The government must enforce the law firmly, but it must also obey the law. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable.”
He directed the Ministry of Interior and NSCDC leadership to cooperate with the investigation and ensure that no officer interferes with the process or frustrates efforts to establish the truth.
Earlier, Tunji-Ojo said: “It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended.
“We run a government whose ultimate priority is security of lives and we have worked to stay true to this.”
