On Monday, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji‑Ojo opened a 10‑member independent committee in Abuja to investigate the deaths of 37 illegal miners who died while in custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
The miners were detained following an enforcement operation around Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna. According to the ministry, the men died while held by the NSCDC, prompting a federal response and the formation of a probe to uncover the circumstances of their deaths.
During the inauguration, Tunji‑Ojo pledged that the committee would remain free from any interference. He emphasized that the body was independent of the minister and all other officials, and that its findings would guide any remedial action.
Committee mandates
- Identify the deceased and establish the time and place of death.
- Ascertain immediate and remote causes of death and verify all data.
- Determine the circumstances of arrest and detention by the NSCDC.
- Examine the legality and suitability of the detention facility, detention duration and compliance with laws and human‑rights standards.
- Investigate whether the detainees were tortured, inhumanely treated or denied medical care.
- Probe for negligence or professional misconduct by officers.
- Review the NSCDC’s operational mandate on illegal‑mining enforcement and rules of engagement.
- Interview officers, detainees, families, witnesses and medical personnel.
- Examine medical and autopsy reports, detention records and other evidence.
- Determine individual or institutional culpability.
- Recommend disciplinary, administrative or legal action against those found culpable.
- Recommend compensation or other remedial measures for the families of the deceased.
“It’s unfortunate that this incident happened, but we must make sure that it does not happen again. As a country this must not be a comma but a full stop,” Tunji‑Ojo said, urging the committee to make any other recommendations in line with its findings.
The federal government has stressed that the tragedy will never be repeated, and the committee’s work is expected to provide a comprehensive account of the deaths and the steps needed to prevent a recurrence.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
