President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The President directed that any official found to have contributed to the deaths through negligence, abuse or dereliction of duty should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Tinubu, in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the deaths as a grave matter requiring urgent investigation and accountability.
He stressed that every Nigerian’s life matters and that no citizen should die in government custody because of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or failure by officials to carry out their responsibilities.
“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 insisted that enforcement operations must be conducted within the law and in accordance with 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,” he said.
“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.”
The President directed investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the conditions in which they were held, the number of people detained at the facility, the medical attention provided and the events that preceded their deaths.
He also cautioned that the suspension of officers must not be treated as a substitute for determining whether criminal liability 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 investigative authorities and ensure that no officer interferes with the process or frustrates efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The miners were arrested during enforcement operations in the Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Niger State on September 15 and 16.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago subsequently confirmed that 37 suspected illegal miners had died in NSCDC custody. He said forensic and medical examinations, including autopsies, were being conducted to determine the cause of death.
The NSCDC has also constituted an investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the condition of the suspects at the time of arrest, their period in custody, the conditions of detention and the medical care provided.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo had earlier suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and ordered a full investigation.
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said anyone found culpable would not be shielded, while urging the public not to prejudge the outcome of the investigation.
Former Vice President and 2027 ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar also called for accountability, demanding an independent, thorough and transparent investigation into the deaths.
Meanwhile, Governor Bago imposed a 24-hour curfew in Niger State following protests and the destruction of property linked to the incident.
The governor said buses belonging to the state transport company, a Sterling Bank branch, political party offices and private businesses were vandalised during the unrest.
Tinubu appealed for calm among the families and communities affected by the deaths, assuring them that the Federal Government would establish the facts and take appropriate action based 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.
