The Niger State Government has set up an investigative Committee to ascertain the root cause of the deaths of 37 illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Niger State Command.
The government has also declared 3 days of mourning for the repose of the 37 victims and suspended all political programs till further notice.
The Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye and his team have been suspended by the NSCDC Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Audi, to pave the way for proper investigation.
The Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, will chair the Committee, with the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Magaji, as secretary.
At the same time, the Department of State Security, Nigeria Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have also set up their Committees to unravel the causes.
Governor Bago, while setting up the committee, said a forensic audit and autopsy will be carried out on the victims to determine the exact cause of death and consequently take necessary action.
The government, which described the incident as unfortunate and tragic, condoled with the families of all those who lost their lives and reassured them that the government will get to the root of the matter.
According to the Governor, his administration values the lives of its citizens and, as such, will not tolerate any form of injustice and will make sure that the incident is probed to a logical conclusion.
The Governor equally revealed that the State government is taking a register of families of those who lost their lives, commiserating with them and appealing to them to be patient with the government, as his administration will do its best to find the root causes.
Governor Bago also declared that all illegal mining activities around the M I Wushishi mining site are closed and anyone found flouting the order will be prosecuted, while experts from Abuja will be invited to carry out analysis on the site.
The Governor appealed to the residents of the state, especially the youth, to remain calm and not to take the law into their hands and allow the authorities concerned to take charge.
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(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
