Niger State Government has set up a committee of inquiry to investigate and determine the cause of death of 37 illegal miners. They died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Niger State Command.

Gov. Umaru Bago, who disclosed this in Minna, said similar investigation committees have been set up by the Department of State Security (DSS), the Nigeria Police, and NSCDC to unravel the cause of the 37 deaths.

He said his deputy, Mr Yakubu Garba, was to chair the state government committee, while the Commissioner for Homeland Security, Mr Maurice Magaji, would serve as the Secretary.

The governor said forensic audits and autopsies would be carried out on the victims to ascertain the exact cause of death for further action.

He described the incident as unfortunate and tragic, saying that the state government was taking a register of families of the deceased persons.

Bago sympathised with the families of the deceased and assured them that his administration would do its best to unravel the cause of the death.

He appealed to residents of the state, especially youths, to remain calm and not to take laws into their hands but to allow authorities concerned to take charge.

The governor then directed that the M.I. Wushishi Mining Site be shut down, warning that “anyone found flouting the directive will be prosecuted.”

He further revealed that experts would be invited to carry out analysis on the site

Bago also disclosed that the state commandant of the NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, had been suspended to pave way for proper investigation.

(NAN)