President Bola Tinubu has absolved Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago of responsibility for the deaths of 37 miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, NSCDC.
Tinubu who absolved the Governor of the responsibility, said the NSCDC is an agency under the Federal Government and not the state government.
The President also announced a N250 million donation to the families of the deceased as part of efforts to cushion the hardship arising from the loss.
Tinubu, who spoke through Vice President Kashim Shettima, made the declarations during a condolence visit to the government, people of the State and the bereaved families at the Government House in Minna.
He said the deaths demanded answers and assured that an independent panel had been constituted by the Federal Government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, stressing that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
According to him, the tragedy should not be politicised, stressing that every Nigerian was entitled to the protection of the state regardless of political, religious or other affiliations.
He said the Federal Government remained committed to protecting the lives and property of Nigerians, adding that victims deserved dignity, survivors deserved care and bereaved families deserved the truth about what happened.
He assured the bereaved that the government would pursue the investigation and ensure accountability where wrongdoing was established.
Responding, Governor Bago appreciated the Vice President for visiting the state on behalf of President Tinubu, describing the visit as a demonstration of empathy and solidarity with the affected families. Government
The governor noted that Tinubu was outside the country on vacation when the incident occurred, while Shettima was in New York representing the President at the United Nations General Assembly which was the reason for the late visitation to the families of the deceased miners.
Bago said the Vice President’s visit coincided with the submission of the report of the committee constituted by the Niger State Government and headed by his deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, with the Emir of Minna, Umar Faruk, as a member, adding that the state government would also present palliatives to the families of the deceased.
The governor lamented that Niger State had suffered several tragedies in recent times, including insecurity, mining-related incidents and petrol tanker explosions, and prayed for the repose of the deceased.
Families of some of the victims later expressed appreciation for the Vice President’s visit, describing it as a demonstration that the Federal Government was concerned about their plight.
