Atiku, in a statement issued on Saturday, questioned how the detainees, who were reportedly arrested alive during operations against illegal mining, ended up dead while under government custody.
He specifically called on President Tinubu, Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake and Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to account for the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The former vice-president said the government had assumed responsibility for the safety of the detainees once they were arrested and detained, arguing that the deaths required a transparent explanation and an independent investigation.
The incident occurred after NSCDC personnel arrested suspected illegal miners during operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around the Wushishi-Lukoto area of Minna.
The NSCDC initially said the detainees died following a suspected disease outbreak. However, survivors subsequently alleged that the detainees were kept in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell and struggled to breathe before some of them died.
The conflicting accounts have increased public concern over what happened inside the detention facility.
Following the deaths, President Tinubu directed a full investigation into the incident. The Federal Government has since constituted a 10-member independent committee to establish the identities of the deceased and determine the circumstances surrounding their arrest, detention and deaths.
The Interior Ministry also announced the suspension of 21 officers in connection with the incident, in addition to the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC commandant.
The committee has been given two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report. It is also expected to determine whether negligence, misconduct or other forms of responsibility contributed to the deaths and recommend appropriate action.
Atiku, however, said the government should not limit accountability to the suspension of junior officers. He argued that the investigation should establish the full chain of command involved in the arrests, transportation and detention of the miners.
He also called for relevant records and evidence to be preserved and for the circumstances surrounding each death to be independently established.
The former vice-president linked the tragedy to broader concerns about illegal mining, poverty and unemployment, while maintaining that enforcement of laws against illegal mining should not compromise the safety and rights of people in government custody.
The deaths have already triggered protests in Minna, with security forces using tear gas to disperse demonstrators. The Niger State Government also imposed a 12-hour curfew following unrest connected to the incident.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago subsequently declared three days of mourning for the victims.
The controversy has placed renewed attention on the conditions under which suspected illegal miners are detained and the responsibilities of security and government agencies during enforcement operations.
For the families of the 37 deceased miners, the ongoing investigation is expected to provide clarity on how their relatives died and whether any officials or other individuals should be held responsible.
The Federal Government has said the investigation will determine responsibility and recommend appropriate measures, while Atiku and other critics continue to demand a full and transparent account of the incident.
Leave a comment