Some suspected illegal miners arrested and detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State have died in custody, with authorities attributing the deaths to a suspected outbreak of disease.
The confirmation is contained in a statement personally signed by the Commandant of the Corps, Suberu Aniviye.
According to Aniviye, the incident followed a “burst operation” conducted on September 15 and 16 in M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto Village within Minna Metropolis, leading to the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of exhibits. The suspects were subsequently taken into custody.
The Commandant added that, unfortunately, in the early hours of September 17, some of the detained suspects were found dead following a suspected outbreak of disease. Their bodies were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for further medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.
While the Corps, in synergy with sister security agencies, says it is on top of the situation, Commandant Aniviye appealed to the general public and the families of the deceased to remain calm and desist from any actions that could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
The appeal comes as residents of the Maitumbi area, believed to be family members of the deceased, took to the streets in protest, disrupting vehicular and human movement.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Niger State Command, says it remains fully committed to the enforcement of human rights and subscribes to international human rights charters, while remaining steadfast in the enforcement of its core mandates, including the protection of lives and property, as well as critical national assets and infrastructure, for the benefit of the Commonwealth.
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Editor: Ada Ononye
