Nigeria’s government has suspended a civil defence commander following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody on Thursday.
The incident, which occurred in a detention facility, left the miners dead while they were being held. The commander of the civil defence unit was immediately relieved of duty as part of the government’s response.
Investigation ordered
President Bola Tinubu has called for a “thorough”, “urgent” and “full and transparent investigation” into the deaths, saying the inquiry must be conducted without delay.
“We will conduct a thorough, urgent and full and transparent investigation,” President Tinubu said.
While details of the investigation remain limited, the incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of illegal mining operations in Nigeria, the country’s most populous nation in Africa.
<small>Source: Africanews — read the original story there.</small>
