The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered a full-scale and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 37 illegal miners who were reportedly in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
Following the ministerial directive, the NSCDC Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, ordered the Niger State Commandant to immediately step aside and report to the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja.
The State Commandant is to appear before the panel of inquiry alongside the Heads of Operations, Mining, Legal, Intelligence and Investigation for questioning as part of the investigation.
The NSCDC Commandant General has also directed another senior officer to proceed to Niger State and take over the leadership of the command with immediate effect.
According to the statement, the investigation is expected to be transparent, comprehensive and unhindered, with the aim of establishing the circumstances that led to the deaths and determining whether any officer or personnel breached established procedures or the law.
The NSCDC said the Commandant General assured the Minister of Interior that no stone would be left unturned in the investigation.
It added that any officer found to have acted contrary to the law, established procedures or professional standards would face appropriate administrative or disciplinary action and, where applicable, criminal sanctions in accordance with extant laws and regulations.
The Corps further reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of persons in its custody.
It also stressed that the enforcement of its statutory responsibilities, including combating illegal mining and protecting Nigeria’s critical national assets, would continue to be carried out in accordance with the law and established professional standards.
