The minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday, September 18, ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger state commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Aniviye, following the deaths of suspected illegal miners in the state.
The minister also ordered a full investigation into the incident, which occurred at the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna, the state capital, in the early hours of Thursday.
The development was contained in a statement issued by the minister’s special adviser on media and publicity, Alao Babatunde.
According to the statement, the suspected illegal miners were arrested during enforcement operations conducted in parts of Niger state on September 15 and 16.
“It is an unfortunate incident; however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended.
“We run a government whose ultimate priority is the security of lives, and we have worked to stay true to this,” the minister declared.
Tunji-Ojo urged members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding to allow for a transparent investigation.
He also commiserated with Niger state governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the families and relatives of the deceased.
The number of suspected illegal miners who died in custody is no fewer than 33.
The deaths had earlier prompted the NSCDC to constitute an investigative team to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The NSCDC national Public Relations Officer (PRO), Babawale Afolabi, said the team, led by the deputy commandant-general in charge of intelligence and investigation, was mandated to conduct a comprehensive inquiry.
The investigation was to cover the condition of the suspects upon arrest, their period in custody, the conditions of detention, medical attention provided to them, and other circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The NSCDC had also cautioned against speculation over the cause of the deaths, saying reports attributing them to any specific disease remained subject to medical and laboratory confirmation.
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