The federal government on Saturday, September 19, set up a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of 40 illegal miners detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger state.
The minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the committee’s constitution following president Bola Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive investigation into the deaths.
The 40 detainees died on Thursday, September 17, while in the custody of the NSCDC Niger state command.
The cause of the deaths remains unknown, with the committee mandated to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the identities of the deceased and the events leading to their arrest and detention.
According to a statement signed by Tunji-Ojo, the committee will also determine responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable.
It will further recommend measures to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.
The committee is chaired by retired deputy director-general of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, while Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, will serve as secretary.
Other members are retired assistant inspector-general of Police Hosea Hassan Karma, Professor Olayinka Buhari, professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and representatives of the Minna Emirate council and Niger state government.
The panel also includes Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint newspaper and public affairs analyst Dr George Agbakahi.
The committee may co-opt relevant experts, access facilities and documents, visit locations connected to the incident and request memoranda from members of the public.
It has two weeks to complete the investigation and submit its report to the minister of interior.
Tunji-Ojo warned that attempts to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would be treated as a serious offence.
He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm as the investigation continues.
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