By David Oluwaseun
The Federal Government has announced a ₦250 million support package for the families of the 37 suspected miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, as Vice President Kashim Shettima assured the bereaved families that the government would establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and hold anyone found culpable accountable.
Shettima gave the assurance on Monday during a condolence visit to Minna, the Niger State capital, where he conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s sympathies to Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, the bereaved families and the people of the state.
The 37 persons died on September 17 after being detained by the NSCDC on suspicion of illegal mining. The circumstances and cause of the deaths remain the subject of an independent investigation.
The Vice President said President Tinubu had directed a comprehensive investigation into the incident and that the Federal Government had constituted a 10-member independent investigative committee to establish the facts, determine responsibility and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The government had also suspended officers connected with the incident pending the outcome of the investigation.
Shettima described the deaths as a matter of national concern, stressing that the responsibility of the state to protect citizens does not end when they are taken into custody.
“The deaths of 37 young men in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are a blot on our national conscience. No parent should receive a body when they are waiting for a son to come home,” he said.
He stressed that the government would not prejudge the outcome of the investigation but would ensure that the circumstances surrounding the deaths were thoroughly established.
“On President Tinubu’s directive, an independent investigative panel has been constituted to establish the facts, determine responsibility and lay the foundation for justice and closure,” Shettima said.
He added: “A citizen deprived of liberty remains entitled to the protection of the state. No allegation, however grave, diminishes that entitlement. No uniform confers immunity from accountability.”
The Vice President said the government owed the families answers and justice, while anyone found responsible would be required to face the law through due process.
“We owe justice to every soul lost, answers to every bereaved family and due process to every person under investigation. Whoever is found culpable must answer before the law,” he said.
The independent investigative committee, inaugurated by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is mandated to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, while former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, serves as secretary.
The committee has commenced its work, including plans to visit relevant locations, engage government agencies, interview relevant persons and obtain materials necessary to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
Its medical team has also commenced work to determine the causes, mechanisms and manner of the deaths.
Governor Bago commended Shettima for visiting Niger State on behalf of the President, describing the visit as a demonstration of empathy and solidarity with the affected families.
Bago said the President’s message had been clearly conveyed to the families and people of Niger State, while thanking the Vice President for his intervention.
The Governor noted that the tragedy had caused widespread grief across the state and stressed the importance of allowing the investigation to establish the facts.
The Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Emmanuel Umar, also welcomed the Federal Government’s intervention, saying Shettima’s presence demonstrated solidarity with the bereaved families and the people of Niger State.
He said the incident had affected not only the families of the deceased but communities across the state.
The Federal Government’s intervention comes as the independent panel continues its investigation into the deaths, with authorities expected to establish what happened and determine responsibility based on evidence gathered.
