President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following enforcement operations in Minna, Niger State.
A statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Tinubu gave the directive this Friday in response to reports of the deaths of the detainees following operations around the Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in the Niger State capital.
Tinubu said the lives of all Nigerians mattered and that no citizen should die while in government custody as a result of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty.
He described the reported deaths as a grave development requiring urgent investigation and accountability.
The President, however, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to combating illegal mining and other criminal activities, stressing that enforcement operations must be conducted within the law and with full respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of persons in custody.
According to him, being suspected of illegal mining does not deprive anyone of the right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody.
He directed that any official found, through investigation, to have contributed to the deaths by action, abuse or negligence should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“There must be accountability,” the President said.
Tinubu directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the investigation was comprehensive, transparent and unhindered.
He said the probe should cover the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the conditions in which they were held, the number of persons detained at the facility, the medical attention provided to them and the events leading to their deaths.
The President also stressed that the suspension of officers should not be regarded as a substitute for determining criminal responsibility where evidence establishes wrongdoing.
“The suspension of officers is only an administrative step and must not substitute for a proper determination of criminal responsibility where the evidence warrants prosecution,” he said.
He further directed the Ministry of Interior and the NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with all relevant investigative authorities and ensure that no officer interfered with the investigation or attempted to frustrate efforts to establish the truth.
Tinubu extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the repose of their souls.
He also appealed for calm among the affected families and communities, assuring them that the Federal Government would pursue the truth and take appropriate action based on credible evidence.
“We must never allow the pursuit of one form of illegality to create another. The government must enforce the law firmly, but it must also obey the law. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable,” the President said.
