Niger Miners’ Deaths: Police Secure Scene, Preserve Evidence

The Nigeria Police Force has secured the scene of the Niger State incident where 37 suspected illegal miners died in Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) custody as investigations into the cause of their deaths begin. 

Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu disclosed this on Saturday after inspecting the scene with Niger State Governor Umar Bago and other security officials.

Disu said the area had been secured to ensure that no evidence was removed, added or interfered with before the investigation was completed.

He said preserving the scene was necessary to keep it intact and protect the integrity of the investigation.

 “We have to keep the place safe, we have to keep it clean, we have to ensure that nothing is removed and nothing is added in the scene of the incident.”

The IGP also said demonstrations and riots had broken out in parts of the area following the deaths, but the situation had become calm after Governor Bago imposed a curfew.

“We noticed before past two, three hours ago, there have been a kind of demonstration, riot. People want to take laws into their hands, but luckily, decisively, the governor of the state have declared a curfew and the town is calm,” he said.

He urged residents to maintain peace and assured them that the investigation would be transparent, with relevant information made available.

“We assure them that nothing will be kept out from their knowledge, we will not hide anything, and we will be transparent,” he said. 

Disu said the police would work with the committee established by the state government, the NSCDC and other security agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

“The governor at the same time have set up a committee. We are going to work with the committee, we are going to work with the NSCDC and other security agencies to ensure that the truth is unravelled,” Disu said.

The deaths followed the arrest of suspected illegal miners at an illegal mining site in the state.

Governor Bago had earlier said it was too early to determine what caused the deaths, with overcrowding and possible poisoning among the factors being investigated.

He also said preliminary autopsy findings showed burns and peeling skin on some of the bodies, alongside foaming from the mouth and blood stains.

The Niger State Government has suspended mining activities across the state pending the outcome of the investigations.

The Federal Ministry of Mines has also constituted a team of scientists and laboratory experts to investigate the incident.

The deaths triggered demonstrations and attacks on public and private property in parts of Niger State, leading to the imposition of the curfew.