President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The President also directed that any officials found to have contributed to the deaths should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Tinubu gave the directive in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, describing the reported deaths as a grave matter requiring urgent investigation and accountability.
He stressed that the life of every Nigerian mattered and that no citizen should die in government custody as a result of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty.
“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,” the President said.
Tinubu said the Federal Government would continue its efforts to combat illegal mining and other criminal activities but emphasised that enforcement operations must comply with the law and respect the rights 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.
“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,” he said.
The President directed that the investigation should cover the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, their detention conditions, the number of people held at the facility, the medical attention provided and the events leading to their deaths.
He further warned that the suspension of officers should not be regarded as a substitute for determining whether criminal responsibility exists.
“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,” Tinubu said.
He directed the Ministry of Interior and the NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with the relevant investigative authorities and ensure that no officer interfered with the investigation or frustrated efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The deaths occurred after suspected illegal miners were arrested during enforcement operations in the Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Niger State on September 15 and 16.
Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, subsequently confirmed that 37 suspected illegal miners died in NSCDC custody, with forensic examinations, medical examinations and autopsies being conducted to establish the cause of the deaths.
The NSCDC also constituted an investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, their period in custody, detention conditions and the medical attention provided to them.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and ordered a full investigation into the incident.
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also said anyone found culpable would not be shielded, while cautioning against prejudging the outcome of the investigation.
Former Vice President and 2027 ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had also called for accountability over the deaths, demanding an independent, thorough and transparent investigation.
Meanwhile, Bago imposed a 24-hour curfew across Niger State following protests and destruction of property linked to the deaths.
