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 in Niger State.
He directed that officials found to have contributed to the deaths be arrested and prosecuted.
Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, said the reported deaths were a grave matter requiring urgent investigation and accountability.
He said 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 to combat illegal mining and other criminal activities but stressed 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 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 people held at the facility, the medical attention provided and the events leading to their deaths.
He also warned that the suspension of officers must 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.
The President 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 truth.
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.
