The Federal Government Investigative panel on the death of 37 miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has commenced sitting in Minna, Niger state. The panel started its work on Tuesday at the palace of the Emir of Minna behind closed doors, where parents of the deceased miners were invited to testify one after another. This move is aimed at unraveling the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
Parents of the deceased miners have expressed their frustration and disappointment over the lack of support and condolences from the state government. They claimed that no official from the state government has visited them to share in their grief or offer any form of assistance. The parents, who spoke with Blueprint.ng, are demanding justice for their children and want the government to take responsibility for the incident.
Emeka Onyenuchiyi, the father of one of the victims, Emmanuel Emeka, volunteered his son's body for autopsy. He said his son was not an illegal miner but was detained for six days on financial allegations before the incident occurred. Onyenuchiyi expressed his disappointment that the corps has not been released to him, adding that he has been attending various committee sittings in search of justice.
Other parents, including Lawal Mohammed, Abubakar Bihari, and Tanimu Garba, shared their own heart-wrenching stories of loss. They narrated how their children were arrested and detained by the NSCDC, and in some cases, were not even miners but innocent students or errand boys. The parents are calling on the government to take decisive action and ensure that justice is served.
The Federal Government panel has been set up to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the 37 miners. The panel's sitting in Minna is a step towards unraveling the truth and providing closure to the affected families. The parents have been invited to testify, and they are cooperating with the panel in the hope that justice will be served.
Some of the parents have already buried their children, while others are still waiting for the autopsy results. Abdullahi Usman, a 50-year-old father of one of the victims, Usman Abdullahi, said he is not aware of any autopsy test on his son's body. He added that they had to quickly bury him due to the state of the corpse.
The incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice from various quarters. The Federal Government's decision to set up an investigative panel is a welcome development, and the affected families are hopeful that it will lead to accountability and justice. The panel's findings are expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident and provide a measure of closure to the families of the victims.
Key points
- The Federal Government has set up an investigative panel to look into the death of 37 miners in NSCDC custody in Niger state.
- Parents of the deceased miners have expressed frustration over the lack of support and condolences from the state government.
- The panel's sitting in Minna is aimed at unraveling the truth and providing closure to the affected families.
