The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against blaming Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago for the deaths of 37 illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Vice President Kashim Shettima made the statement during a visit to Governor Bago over the incident in Minna, Niger State. Shettima conveyed President Bola Tinubu's condolences to the governor and people of the state.
The 37 miners lost their lives inside a detention facility of the NSCDC in Minna. Shettima demanded answers from the government and people of the state over the deaths. He announced N250m in Federal Government support to the families of the deceased, saying no amount of money could answer the questions of a grieving family. The Vice President cautioned against politicising the deaths or using the tragedy to demonise Governor Bago.
Shettima emphasised that the tragedy should transcend political, religious and other divisions. Every citizen was entitled to the protection of the state, he noted. The Vice President said every victim deserved dignity, survivors deserved care, while families deserved the truth about what happened. He urged leaders to take responsibility when lives were lost within their sphere of influence.
Governor Bago thanked Shettima for the visit and for conveying the President's message. He described the visit as a demonstration of empathy and solidarity with the affected families and the people of Niger. The governor noted that the message from the President had been clearly delivered to the victims' families and the people of the state.
Niger State had suffered several tragedies in recent times, including insecurity, mining-related incidents and petrol tanker explosions. Governor Bago invited relatives of some of the deceased to stand to be identified during Shettima's visit. Some of the victims' families expressed appreciation for the Vice President's visit, saying it demonstrated that the Federal Government was concerned about their plight.
The Vice President's visit was seen as a show of support for the people of Niger State during a difficult time. Shettima's message was clear: the Federal Government would not shy away from taking responsibility for the tragedy. The N250m support announced by Shettima was a gesture of goodwill from the Federal Government to the families of the deceased.
The incident had raised questions about the safety of detainees in NSCDC custody. The Federal Government's response was seen as a step towards addressing the concerns of the public. The Vice President's visit and announcement of support for the victims' families marked a significant development in the aftermath of the tragic incident.
Key points
- The Federal Government has announced N250m in support for the families of the 37 miners who died in NSCDC custody.
- Vice President Shettima cautioned against politicising the deaths or using the tragedy to demonise Governor Bago.
- The incident raised questions about the safety of detainees in NSCDC custody and the Federal Government's response.
