The Federal Government’s 10-member Independent Investigative Committee probing the deaths of 37 artisanal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has assured the victims’ families of a fair and thorough investigation.
Chairman of the committee and retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Jonathan Kure, gave the assurance when he led members of the panel on a courtesy visit to Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, at the Government House in Minna.
Kure said the committee had arrived in Niger State to commence the assignment given to it by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He disclosed that the medical team attached to the investigation had already commenced work shortly after the committee was inaugurated, stressing that the early intervention was necessary to preserve vital evidence and establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
According to him, the panel would operate independently and ensure that its investigation was conducted without bias.
“We will do our best to unravel what went wrong and apportion blame where blame needs to go. Anybody who has been brought into this that has nothing to do with it, where we see it, we will also be fair to such a person,” Kure said.
The committee chairman also commiserated with the Niger State Government, the families of the deceased and the people of the state over the incident, describing it as a serious matter of concern to both Niger State and the country.
He assured the affected families that the outcome of the investigation would help provide answers and bring some measure of relief to those impacted by the deaths.
Responding, Governor Bago pledged the full cooperation of the Niger State Government to enable the committee carry out its mandate effectively.
The governor expressed confidence in the composition of the panel, noting that its members were drawn from relevant professional sectors.
“The world is watching, and the committee consists of people of integrity across relevant sectors. I believe they will do justice,” Bago said.
The committee is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, determine what went wrong and identify responsibility where necessary, while ensuring that individuals found not to have been involved are not unfairly implicated.
