The bereaved families of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in Niger State have demanded justice and compensation, alleging that they were denied access to their loved ones before being informed of their deaths. Relatives claim that they were repeatedly turned away or asked to return whenever they went to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) office to see the detainees or take food to them. The families only later learned that some of the miners had died in custody.
Some relatives alleged that the bodies of the deceased were left for hours before being taken down from an ambulance at the General Hospital in Minna. They also claimed that some of the dead youths had foam and blood around their mouths, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding their deaths. These allegations have sparked concerns about the conditions in which the miners were detained, whether they received medical attention, and what caused their deaths.
Musa Aliyu, a 63-year-old father who lost two sons, Ibrahim, 17, and Abubakar, 12, said the tragedy had compounded his family's hardship. His sons had been helping to buy his medication with proceeds from artisanal mining before they were arrested and later died. Aliyu alleged that it took several hours before the bodies were released to the families, claiming that the corpses were left outside in the sun.
Another bereaved father, Lawal Muhammed, said he lost his 15-year-old son, Suleiman, after officers allegedly denied him and other parents access to the children following their arrest. Muhammed demanded an investigation and prosecution of any officers found culpable, saying that those responsible should be held accountable for their actions.
The Federal Government's Independent Committee of Inquiry into the incident has commenced its sittings, with its medical team beginning work to establish the causes, mechanisms, and manner of the deaths. The committee, inaugurated by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure.
The committee's secretary, Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, said that the panel will visit relevant sites, engage government agencies, interview survivors, suspects, and other relevant persons, and obtain materials needed to establish the facts surrounding the incident. The committee's investigation aims to uncover the truth behind the miners' deaths and provide recommendations for justice and compensation for the affected families.
The incident has highlighted the need for accountability and improved treatment of detainees in Nigeria. The families' demands for justice and compensation have been echoed by many Nigerians, who are calling for those responsible to be held accountable for their actions. The government's response to the incident will be closely watched, as it seeks to address concerns about human rights and the rule of law.
Key points
- The Nigerian government has established an independent committee to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State.
- The bereaved families have demanded justice and compensation, alleging poor treatment and mysterious circumstances surrounding the miners' deaths.
- The committee's investigation aims to uncover the truth behind the incident and provide recommendations for justice and compensation for the affected families.
