The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, has deployed a team of officials to Niger to investigate the deaths of 37 detained suspected illegal miners.
Alake disclosed this in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Lara Owoeye-Wise on Friday in Abuja.
The 37 suspected illegal miners were reported death at a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) facility in Niger.
The NSCDC Niger Command, in a statement issued by its Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, said it conducted a “burst operation” on Sept. 15 and Sept. 16.
Aniviye said the operation was conducted at M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto Village which led to the arrest of the suspected illegal miners.
He said that in the early hours of Thursday, scores of the detained suspects were found dead following a suspected outbreak of disease.
While commiserating Gov. Umaru Bago and the people of Niger State over the incident, Alake said the ministerial team would investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ascertain the facts of the incident.
“The allegation is that the detained persons were arrested on suspicion of carrying out illegal mining.
“I have deployed a high-powered team of officials to Niger state to investigate the circumstances and ascertain the facts of the matter.
“The team will collaborate with other investigators to provide a comprehensive report on the incident,” he said.
Alake described the deaths as tragic, saying the loss of lives was deeply painful, and the incident affected the entire state.
He commiserated with the bereaved families and communities affected by the deaths, saying his thoughts and prayers were with them during the period of mourning.
The minister commended Bago for declaring a period of mourning and establishing an investigative framework to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said a thorough, transparent and independent inquiry was necessary to ensure accountability and prevent a recurrence in detention and correctional facilities.
Gov. Umar Bago of Niger announced that the state had set up a committee to investigate the root causes of the deaths.
He said the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and NSCDC had also set up committees to unravel the causes of the deaths.
Bago said his administration valued the lives of citizens and would not tolerate injustice, assuring that the circumstances surrounding the deaths would be thoroughly investigated.(NAN)
