Niger state governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, on Friday, September 18, said blood and foam were found inside the mouths of some of the suspected illegal miners who died while in Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) detention.
Bago said burns were also found on the bodies of some of the victims, adding that the actual cause of the deaths had not been established.
He said possible causes being investigated included suffocation arising from overcrowding in the detention cell and exposure to hazardous chemicals associated with illegal mining.
According to the governor, samples were taken from some of the bodies before they were buried, while forensic and medical examinations, including autopsies, were being conducted to establish the cause of death.
The deaths were recorded after the NSCDC arrested suspected illegal miners during operations at M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto Village on Tuesday, September 15 and Wednesday, September 16.
The NSCDC had said the detainees died in the early hours of Thursday, September 17 following a suspected outbreak of disease, but noted that the actual cause of death had not been conclusively established.
The incident triggered protests in Minna, with residents demanding answers over the deaths of the detainees. The unrest prompted the Niger state government to impose a 24-hour curfew in the state capital.
Bago also ordered the suspension of mining activities in the state and announced the closure of the illegal mining site in the M.I. Wushishi area.
The Niger state government has begun investigations into the deaths, while separate investigations are also being conducted by security agencies. The state government has ordered forensic examinations and autopsies to establish the exact cause of death.
The federal government also ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, directed the NSCDC commandant-general to investigate the incident, leading to the suspension of the Niger state commandant, Suberu Aniviye.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident, directing relevant authorities to establish the circumstances of the arrests, detention conditions, medical attention provided to the detainees and events leading to their deaths.
The president also said any official found responsible through action, abuse or negligence should face the law.
Meanwhile, minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the federal government would not shield anyone found culpable, while cautioning against prejudging the outcome of the investigation.
Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has also called for an independent, thorough and transparent investigation, saying the findings should be made public and anyone found responsible should be held accountable.
Human rights groups have similarly demanded investigations into the deaths, with Amnesty International calling for an independent probe into the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths of the suspected miners.
Comments