President Bola Tinubu has ordered the arrest and prosecution of any government official found responsible for the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
Tinubu directed a full and transparent investigation into the deaths, saying no Nigerian should lose their life in government custody because of negligence, abuse or inhumane treatment.
The President gave the directive in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
He said the investigation must establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine whether any officials contributed to them.
“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 said.
The President said the government would continue to enforce laws against illegal mining and other criminal activities but stressed that such operations must respect the rights and dignity of people in custody.
“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,” he said.
Tinubu directed investigators to examine the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the number of people held at the facility, the conditions of detention, the medical attention provided and the events leading to the deaths.
He also warned that the suspension of officials involved in the incident must not end the process of determining criminal responsibility.
“The suspension of officers is only an administrative step and must not substitute for a proper determination of criminal responsibility where the evidence warrants prosecution,” the President said.
He directed the Ministry of Interior and the NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with investigators and ensure that no official interferes with the process.
The suspected miners were arrested during enforcement operations against illegal mining in the Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Niger State on September 15 and 16.
The NSCDC subsequently launched an investigation into the deaths, with its investigative team mandated to examine the condition of the detainees at the time of arrest, their period in custody, detention conditions and the medical care they received.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and ordered a full investigation into the incident.
Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, later imposed a 24-hour curfew following protests over the deaths and reported vandalism of government and private property.
The Federal Government has separately assured that anyone found culpable will not be shielded from accountability, while urging Nigerians to allow the investigation to establish the facts before conclusions are reached.
Former Vice President and 2027 ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has also called for accountability and an independent investigation into the deaths.
The cause of the deaths has not been established, with medical and forensic examinations, including autopsies, expected to help determine what happened.
Tinubu appealed for calm among the affected families and communities, saying the government would pursue the truth and act on credible evidence.
“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 said.
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