The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has led a delegation to Niger State to commiserate with the state government over the death of 37 artisanal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Speaking during the visit in Minna, Tunji-Ojo described the incident as a sad development, not only for the people of Minna and Niger State, but for the entire country.
He said the incident was particularly unfortunate at a time when Niger State was recording significant development and strengthening its internal security measures under Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago.
The Minister assured the state government that the Ministry of Interior would work with relevant authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, determine what happened and take measures to prevent a recurrence.
He also reaffirmed the Nigerian Government’s commitment to continued collaboration with the Niger State Government to strengthen security and maintain peace across the state.
Responding, Governor Bago thanked the Nigerian Government for its prompt response and for sending the delegation to commiserate with the state over what he described as a devastating incident.
Bago welcomed the Nigerian Government’s decision to deploy a committee of experts to conduct laboratory tests on the suspected mining site, saying the exercise would help determine the nature of the mineral resources in the area.
The governor reiterated the need for a thorough investigation to establish the root cause of the incident and put measures in place to prevent a recurrence.
He also commended the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) for their timely intervention, which he said helped prevent further escalation and thwart attempts by criminal elements to cause violence in Minna.
Bago assured that the state government would continue to cooperate with the Nigerian Government and security agencies to restore peace and ensure the safety of residents.
