Names of 37 Niger Miners Who Died in Custody

The names of 37 suspected illegal miners in Mina, who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State, have emerged.

The victims were among scores of suspects arrested during operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around the Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna, the state capital.

Suberu Aniviye, the NSCDC commandant in the state at the time, had said scores of the detained suspects were found dead in the early hours of Thursday following a suspected outbreak of disease.

Read More : Tinubu Urges Africa To End Raw Mineral Exports

Following the deaths, the Nigerian Government suspended the Niger State NSCDC commandant and ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The International Human Rights Commission told media on Monday that it had compiled a list of the deceased.

Awaisu Giwa, International Peace Ambassador at the IHRC, said the organisation obtained an initial list from the records of the General Hospital, Minna.

“We got the list from the CMD of the general hospital. It was written by the mortuary attendant for us, but we are going to the hospital tomorrow for the list to be on the official letterhead of the hospital,” Giwa said.

He added, “The CMD was the one who instructed the mortuary attendant to give us the names. Some people whose relatives were missing are beginning to report in our office.”

Author

Toyibat Ajose

Toyibat is a highly motivated Mass Communication major and results-oriented professional with a robust foundation in media, education, and communication. Leveraging years of hands-on experience in journalism, she has honed her ability to craft compelling narratives, conduct thorough research, and deliver accurate and engaging content that resonates with diverse audiences.