The Federal Government has assured the people of Niger State that swift justice will be served over the tragic deaths of 37 artisanal miners in Wushishi.
The Government which promises a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, declared that the federal administration will not allow the tragedy to slide
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who made this known in Minna while paying a condolebce visit to the State Governor Mohammed Bago, vowed to unearth the root cause and prevent any future recurrence.
The Minister, conveying the condolences of the President, emphasized that the Ministry will collaborate closely with the state government to ensure that anyone responsible for operational negligence is held accountable.
The tragedy unfolded after 67 miners, comprising mostly youths between the ages of 14 and 18, were arrested and detained in a Civil Defence holding cell for over 24 hours. 37 of the miners died in the holding cell.
Bago while responding to the Minister declared that the incident has made vandals to take over the streets in the wake of the deaths of 37 artisanal miners in Civil Defence custody, leaving buses destroyed, a bank attacked and businesses and party offices ransacked.
To this end, the Governor declared a 24-hour curfew across the state capital which would start after the Friday prayers.
Addressing federal officials including the Minister of Interior, Bago warned that vandals were taking over the streets and that immediate action was required to restore order.
The governor disclosed that preliminary forensic findings showed foam mixed with bloodstains in some mouths and peeling skin, leaving open the possibility of methane, cyanide or lead poisoning calling for a full investigation into the root cause.
He thanked the Commandant-General of the Civil Defence for the swift suspension of the former state Commandant who ordered the prolonged detention of so many people, describing the decision as callous and reckless stating that the oficers on duty who also ignored the detainees’ screams that they were dying were also callous.
Bago stated that though security forces including the army, police and Department of State Services had already intervened to stop the violence from escalating further appealing to residents to exercise restraint, remain patient and keep their children at home while authorities work to establish the facts.
He condemned the destruction of public assets, private property, marketplaces, businesses and schools as an affront to governance and warned that such acts would not be tolerated.
The Governor also ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities, both legal and illegal, across the state until soil tests determine whether hazardous substances are present.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has dispatched a high-powered team of ministerial experts to Niger State following the tragic deaths of 33 suspected illegal artisanal miners while in custody in Minna, the state capital.
The victims were reportedly arrested during a joint security sweep targeting illegal mining operations across local communities in Niger State and were being held in detention facilities pending formal prosecution before the fatal incident occurred.
In a statement the Minister expressed profound grief over the loss of lives, describing the event as a monumental tragedy that demands a thorough and transparent investigation.
“It is with profound shock and deep sorrow that I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the entire people of the state over the tragic loss of lives among detained citizens in Minna,” Alake stated.
“The loss of any life is a deeply painful occurrence, and a tragedy of this magnitude affects us all. During this solemn period of state mourning, my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the communities bearing the weight of this grief.”
Commending Governor Bago for declaring a state period of mourning and initiating an official inquiry into the tragedy, the Minister underscored the necessity of determining the precise facts surrounding the custody deaths.
“I commend Governor Bago’s swift administrative response in declaring a period of mourning and establishing an investigative framework to uncover the full circumstances of this unfortunate incident,” Alake noted.
“A thorough, transparent, and independent inquiry is vital to ensure accountability and prevent any recurrence of such distress in our detention and correctional facilities.”
Clarifying the Ministry’s immediate intervention due to the operational background of the deceased, Alake revealed that the federal expert team would work closely with state authorities and security agencies to establish full accountability.
“Given the allegation that the detained persons were arrested on suspicion of carrying out illegal mining, I have deployed a high-powered team of officials to Niger State to investigate the circumstances and ascertain the facts of the matter,” the Minister declared.
“The team will collaborate with other investigators to provide a comprehensive report on the incident.”
Alake then offered prayers for the deceased and their surviving kin: “May the Almighty comfort the families affected and grant the souls of the departed eternal rest.
