…Says Deaths Were Avoidable, 14 Minors Among Victims
…Orders Immediate Suspension Of Officers Accused Of Destroying Evidence
…Interior Minister Pledges Implementation Of Probe Panel’s Recommendations
Daud Olatunji
The Federal Government’s investigative committee into the deaths of 37 miners in Niger State has recommended the summary dismissal of the state commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other officers allegedly involved in the detention that preceded the tragedy.
The committee also recommended ₦1.4bn in compensation for the families of 33 victims and 44 survivors, while calling for institutional reforms to strengthen the leadership and operations of the corps.
The chairman of the Independent Investigative Committee, Jonathan Kure, disclosed the recommendations on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
Kure described the deaths as avoidable, alleging that the victims, including 14 minors, were subjected to inhuman conditions during their detention.
The recommendations followed an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the miners, which have raised concerns about the treatment of detainees and the conduct of security personnel.
The panel’s call for the dismissal of the officers signals the possibility of disciplinary action against personnel found to have been directly involved in the incident.
However, the recommended dismissals remain subject to implementation by the relevant authorities.
The committee also called for comprehensive institutional reforms within the NSCDC, apparently aimed at strengthening accountability, leadership and operational standards to prevent a recurrence of the incident.
Receiving the report, Tunji-Ojo pledged that the Federal Government would implement the committee’s recommendations to ensure justice for the affected families and other victims.
The minister further directed the commandant-general of the NSCDC to immediately suspend officers accused of cleaning up the detention facility in an alleged attempt to destroy evidence connected to the incident.
The directive underscores concerns about the preservation of evidence and the need to establish the circumstances surrounding the miners’ deaths.
The committee’s recommendations include compensation for the affected families and survivors, disciplinary measures against officers implicated in the incident, and reforms intended to improve the corps’ operations.
The proposed ₦1.4bn compensation package is expected to provide financial relief to the families of the deceased and the 44 survivors identified by the committee.
The government’s response and the implementation of the recommendations will be critical in determining whether those found culpable are held accountable and whether measures are introduced to prevent similar incidents in the future.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the panel’s report places responsibility on the relevant authorities to address both the circumstances that led to the deaths and the alleged actions that followed the incident.
The government has yet to provide further details in the material available on the specific allocation of the proposed compensation among the beneficiaries or the timeline for implementing the recommendations.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
'