Niger: Bago Declares 24-Hour Curfew in Minna Over Illegal Miners’ Deaths

Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has declared a 24-hour curfew in Minna, the state capital, following unrest linked to the deaths of suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The curfew takes effect immediately after Friday’s Jumu’ah prayers and will remain in force until further notice.

The governor directed residents to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movements, while security agencies were ordered to enforce the directive and protect lives and property across the metropolis.

The development followed Thursday’s protest and unrest after the deaths of suspected illegal miners who were arrested during enforcement operations in the Wushishi/Lukoto axis and detained at an NSCDC facility in Minna.

Bago said the state government had constituted a committee of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

He also disclosed that the NSCDC Commandant in Niger State and his team had been suspended to allow for a proper investigation.

“The most important is that people died in the custody of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps. They were detained in their cells, and this morning we woke up to the news that 37 of them had died,” Bago said.

The governor stressed that the cause of the deaths had not been officially established, warning against drawing conclusions before the completion of ongoing investigations.

He said possible causes being examined included suffocation resulting from overcrowding in the detention facility and exposure to hazardous substances associated with illegal mining.

“It could be as a result of suffocation because there were so many in a cell. The second issue could be because of exposure to maybe lead poisoning or other very hazardous chemicals that are used to do the illegal mining,” he said.

Bago said forensic examinations, medical examinations and autopsies were being conducted to establish the scientific cause of the deaths.

He added that investigation panels constituted by the NSCDC, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services were also looking into the incident alongside the committee established by the state government.

The governor said reports concerning the physical condition of some of the deceased, including claims of peeling skin and foaming at the mouth with blood, were among the issues being examined by investigators.

He cautioned against attributing the deaths to any particular cause until the forensic and medical investigations are concluded.

Bago also announced the closure of the illegal mining site in the M.I. Wushishi area, saying mining activities there had been carried out without appropriate technology and safety equipment.

He appealed for calm following the movement of the bodies to the mortuary, which he said triggered emotional reactions and violence among some youths.

Interior Minister Orders Full-Scale Probe

Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the deaths of the suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in Niger State.

The minister directed the NSCDC Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, to conduct a “full-scale, transparent and unhindered investigation” into the incident.

Following the directive, Audi ordered the Niger State Commandant to step aside immediately and report to the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja to appear before the panel investigating the deaths.

The state commandant was directed to be accompanied by the Heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence, and Investigation, who were also ordered to report to the panel.

Audi further directed a new commandant to proceed to Niger State and assume immediate command of the state command.

In a statement signed by the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, the Corps said the investigation would be conducted thoroughly and that any personnel found to have breached the law or established professional standards would face appropriate sanctions.

FG Condoles Families of Deceased Miners

The Federal Government has also expressed condolences to the government and people of Niger State over the deaths of persons arrested during enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining activities in the Wushishi/Lukoto axis.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, conveyed the Federal Government’s condolences to Governor Bago, traditional leaders and residents of Wushishi, as well as the families and loved ones of those who died.

Idris said the Federal Government regarded the protection of the lives, dignity and fundamental rights of Nigerians as a solemn responsibility.

He stressed that the circumstances surrounding the deaths required a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation, assuring the families of the deceased and the people of Niger State that the Federal Government remained committed to establishing the facts surrounding the tragedy.