A witness has come forward alleging that families of miners who died in Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) custody in Niger State were charged ₦50,000 to access the bodies of their loved ones. The witness made the allegation in a video interview with News Central at a mining site in Niger State. The incident in question involves 37 suspected miners who were arrested during operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State and later died while in NSCDC custody.
The witness recounted that after the arrests, relatives went to look for those detained but were informed that they had died. The families were then told that the bodies were at the general hospital. However, the witness claimed that they were denied access to the bodies until they paid ₦50,000. The witness disputed the suggestion that heat was responsible for the deaths, arguing that the number of people allegedly held in a confined space raised questions about the conditions in which they were detained.
The witness questioned why several people would allegedly be kept in one cell when, according to him, the detention facility had multiple cells. He also claimed that some of those arrested were below the age of 18 and questioned why they would have been detained. The witness further disputed the classification of the miners as illegal miners, saying they were working at a site with the permission of its owner.
The witness alleged that security personnel had previously pursued miners at the site and called for changes in the way mining activities were handled in the state. He argued that civil defence personnel did not have the right to shoot gold miners. The witness called on the Niger State Government to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure justice for the deceased and their families.
Authorities have continued investigations into the incident. The Niger State Government has constituted an inquiry, while the police have secured the scene to preserve evidence. The Federal Government has also ordered an investigation into the deaths. Medical examinations, forensic investigations, and autopsies are being conducted to establish the actual cause of the deaths.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation. The witness’s account could not independently establish the circumstances of the deaths or the allegation concerning the ₦50,000 payment. However, the witness’s testimony has sparked widespread concern and calls for a thorough investigation into the incident.
The Niger State Government has been urged to take swift action to unravel the truth behind the deaths of the 37 miners. The incident has raised questions about the treatment of suspects in detention and the regulation of mining activities in the state. Key stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the investigations.
Key points
- A witness has alleged that families of miners who died in NSCDC custody were charged ₦50,000 to access the bodies of their loved ones.
- The incident involves 37 suspected miners who died while in NSCDC custody in Niger State.
- Authorities have continued investigations into the incident, with the Niger State Government constituting an inquiry and the Federal Government ordering an investigation.
