President Bola Tinubu has ordered a “full and transparent” investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger state.
On Thursday, NSCDC said the suspects were arrested during operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna, the Niger state capital.
Suberu Aniviye, NSCDC commandant in Niger state, said in a statement that “scores of the detained suspects were found dead in the early hours of Thursday following a suspected outbreak of disease”.
Following the development, the federal government suspended the Niger state NSCDC commandant and ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Tinubu: ‘Life of every Nigerian matters’
Reacting to the incident in a statement issued on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, his special adviser on information and strategy, Tinubu described the development as a grave matter requiring urgent investigation and accountability.
The president said the life of every Nigerian matters, adding that no citizen should lose his life while in government custody as a result of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty.
“While the Federal Government would continue to combat illegal mining and other criminal activities across the country, enforcement operations must be conducted strictly within the law and with full respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of every person in custody,” the statement reads.
“The fact that these individuals were suspected of illegal mining does not in any way remove their right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody.
“Government will not tolerate mass deaths arising from official negligence, dereliction of duty or failure by public officials to protect the lives placed under their care.
“Where the investigation establishes that any official, through action, abuse or negligence, contributed to these deaths, such an officer must be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. There must be accountability.”
Tinubu also directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the investigation is comprehensive, transparent and unhindered.
He said the probe must cover the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the conditions under which they were detained, the number of persons held in the facility, the medical attention provided and the events leading to their deaths.
Tinubu said the suspension of officers would only be an administrative measure and should not replace a determination of criminal responsibility where evidence warrants prosecution.
He directed the Federal Ministry of Interior and NSCDC leadership to cooperate with relevant authorities to ensure that no officer interferes with the investigation.
The president expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm among affected families and communities.
“We must never allow the pursuit of one form of illegality to create another. The government must enforce the law firmly, but it must also obey the law. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable,” he added.
