The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has constituted a ten-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths of 37 suspected miners held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command.
The action follows a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident, which occurred on Sept. 17.
Describing the deaths as deeply disturbing, the Minister said the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the events leading to the incident.
The independent committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased, and investigate their arrests, detention and the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
The Minister directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence, and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.
The Minister also directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the Committee, while further directing that all records and material evidence connected to the incident be preserved and made available to the investigators.
“Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence,” he warned.
The members of the Committee are: Mr Jonathan Kure, retired Deputy Director-General, Department of State Services, as Chairman, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, as Secretary
Others are : AIG Hosea Hassan Karma (retired), Prof. Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Representative of the Minna Emirate Council and Representative of the Niger State Government.
Also: Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary, Miners Association of Nigeria, Mr Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist, Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper and Dr. George Agbakahi, Public Affairs Analyst.
The Committee may co-opt relevant experts, access all necessary facilities and documents, visit relevant locations and request memoranda from members of the public. It has two weeks to complete its work and submit its report to the Minister.
The Minister also directed the suspension of all officers involved in the incident pending the conclusion of the independent committee’s investigation.
The following officers have been suspended, in addition to the Niger State Commandant of the Corps:
Suspended officers are: O/C Station Guard, SC Usman Isah Ndamaka, Station Guard, ASCI Hassan Mohammed, Station Guard, CCA Bala Mohammed, Arresting Officer/O/C Investigation, CSC Oluwadare Sunday, Arresting Officer, DCC Obafemi Elvis and Arresting Officer, CSC Annas Shitto Lamino
Also, HOD INT/INV, DCC Philip Ajayi, O/C Legal, ACC Barr. Stephen Tsado, Day/Night Duty Officer, ASCI Alhassan Mohammed, Guard Duty, IC Abdullahi Sale, Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Sonfada, Guard Duty, CAI Liman Abubakar and Guard Duty, CAI Bala Usman
Others are: Guard Duty, IC Mohammed Jiya, Guard Duty, DSC Isah Suleiman, Guard Duty, CAI Ahmed Wushishi, Guard Duty, IC Sale Adamu, Guard Duty, IC Haruna Mohammed, Guard Duty, ASCI Aliyu Sallahand Guard Duty, CAI Isah Sanusi
The Minister, however, extends his condolences to the families of the deceased and appeals for calm while the investigation continues.