Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has assured the families of the 37 miners who died in the Nigerian Security Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) custody in Minna that the government would conduct a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The governor made this statement during a three-day Fida’au prayer held at the Tunga Central Mosque in Minna on Sunday for the souls of the deceased miners.
Governor Bago told the families who attended the prayer that the state government is investigating the actual cause of the deaths of the miners. The investigation will also look at the circumstances surrounding the arrest, detention, and death of other detainees at the NSCDC facility. According to him, the government is doing everything possible to get to the crux of the matter, and when that is done, it will be made very public.
The governor explained that preliminary findings indicate that some people were already in the detention cells before the miners were brought in. The investigation will determine who was detained earlier, why they were detained, and who was brought in later, including the identities of those arrested. He cited the example of a young Igbo man, Emmanuel Emeka, who was being held for allegedly stealing from his employer before the incident occurred and was among the miners who died.
Governor Bago announced that the government would provide palliatives and other forms of support to the families of the deceased. The Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bahago, will supervise the distribution of relief materials. The government will also reach out to survivors who are receiving treatment in hospitals. The governor appealed to the people of the state to shun violence.
A 12-hour curfew was imposed by the government following violent protests that greeted the news of the death of the miners. Governor Bago assured that the curfew would be lifted when normalcy is restored, allowing residents to return to their normal activities. However, he maintained that there would be no going back on the government’s ban on mining activities within residential areas in Minna.
The Chief Imam of Tunga Central Mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Salisu Isah Mai Dalalainu, led the prayer and asked for Allah’s comfort and mercy for the families of the deceased. He described the incident as unfortunate and urged residents not to allow it to become a reason for public unrest or violence in the state.
The Fida’a prayer was attended by prominent politicians, members of the Niger State Executive Council, the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Faruq Bahago, and parents and relations of the deceased. Governor Bago vowed to ensure that those responsible for the deaths are brought to justice.
Key points
- The Niger State government will conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths of 37 miners in NSCDC custody.
- Governor Bago has promised to make the findings of the investigation public.
- The government will provide palliatives and support to the families of the deceased miners.
