By Ibrahim Ado,Niger
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has led a Federal Government delegation to Niger State to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the death of miners who were reportedly in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Tunji-Ojo described the incident as deeply regrettable and unfortunate, assuring the Niger State Government that the Federal Government would take appropriate steps to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and prevent a recurrence.
The minister spoke when he led the federal delegation on a condolence visit to the Niger State Government, where he expressed the Federal Government’s concern over the incident and extended condolences to the families of the deceased and the people of the state.
According to him, the government would not take the incident lightly, stressing the need for a thorough investigation to determine what transpired and establish responsibility where necessary.
As part of the immediate response to the incident, Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC had been suspended pending the outcome of investigations.
He said the suspension was necessary to allow the investigation to proceed without interference and to provide clarity on the circumstances that led to the deaths of the miners while in custody.
The minister said the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that the investigation was conducted properly, adding that appropriate measures would be implemented based on its findings.
He also commended the Niger State Government for what he described as the maturity with which it had managed the situation, particularly in the aftermath of the incident.
Tunji-Ojo assured the state government that the Federal Government would work with relevant authorities to ensure that necessary institutional and operational measures were put in place to avert a recurrence.
He stressed the importance of strengthening procedures relating to the custody and treatment of persons detained by security agencies, noting that incidents of this nature require serious attention from government authorities.
Responding, the Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, thanked the Minister of Interior and the Federal Government delegation for the visit and gesture of solidarity.
Bago assured the minister of the state government’s cooperation with the investigation aimed at unraveling the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.
The governor said the state would work with the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to ensure that the facts surrounding the deaths were established.
He expressed the state’s readiness to provide the necessary support for the investigation and other measures required to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The visit is expected to strengthen collaboration between the Federal Government and the Niger State Government as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The incident has also renewed attention on the need for strict adherence to established procedures governing the detention and welfare of persons in the custody of security and law-enforcement agencies.
The Federal Government’s decision to suspend the state NSCDC commandant and commence investigations underscores its resolve to establish the facts and take appropriate action based on the outcome of the probe.
