Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said the state government was not informed about the arrest and detention of suspected illegal miners who later died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
Bago disclosed this during an interview with Channels Television on Sunday while speaking on the deaths of miners detained at an NSCDC facility in Minna.
The governor said 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners were reportedly arrested by NSCDC personnel during operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state on September 15 and 16. Of those detained, 37 later died.
According to Bago, the Niger State Government only became aware of the arrests after news of the deaths emerged and protests began.
He explained that the security agencies involved in the operation were under the control of the Federal Government, which meant the state government had no prior information about the arrests.
Bago said the exact cause of the deaths had not yet been established, adding that overcrowding and possible exposure to hazardous substances were among the factors being investigated.
The Federal Government has ordered an independent investigation into the incident, while NSCDC personnel allegedly connected to the deaths have been detained for questioning and disciplinary proceedings.
The governor also raised concerns over the increasing shift from farming to mining in some communities, noting the challenges faced by artisanal miners, including inadequate protective equipment and poor accommodation.
He said the ongoing investigations should determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish responsibility if any wrongdoing is found.
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