Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has voiced strong doubts about the figures provided by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) regarding the number of suspected illegal miners arrested. This comes in the wake of the deaths of 37 detainees in the agency's cells in Minna. The governor stated that reports indicated about 67 people were detained across three cells. The grim fatality count occurred exclusively in the cell housing male detainees.
Speaking on NTA Network News on Friday amidst ongoing investigations, Governor Bago suggested that the tragic deaths could be attributed to suffocation from severe overcrowding or possible poisoning from hazardous substances found at the mining sites. He emphasized that the exact cause isn't yet determined. However, he noted the possibility of "radiation or lead poisoning" from the mines, alongside the suffocation theory.
The state government has launched a comprehensive investigation. The Ministry of Mines, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS) have all dispatched teams to the scene. Medical examinations and biopsies are underway. Results are expected within five to ten days. Bago described some of the bodies as showing disturbing signs.
These included peeling skin, foam coming from the mouth, and bloodstains around the nose and mouth. This indicates a potentially violent or toxic cause of death.
To facilitate the investigation, the Niger State NSCDC commandant and other officials have been suspended. A state committee of inquiry has also been established. It's headed by the deputy governor and includes state service chiefs. Governor Bago highlighted a lack of communication. He stated the state government wasn't informed at the time of the arrests of these suspected miners. "I think there is need for more collaboration between federal agencies and the state government," he remarked.
He added that information sharing needs to be more fluid. The state learned of the arrests much later, only when the deaths were discovered.
The incident has also brought to the fore concerns about the maximum capacity of detention cells. Governor Bago pointed out that the reported 67 arrests were divided among three cells. He noted that the cells holding girls and some boys saw no casualties. However, the cell designated for men, which was allegedly overcrowded and possibly housed existing inmates, recorded all 37 deaths. "The ones that were not overpopulated, the first one and the second one, there was no casualty," Bago explained. He questioned the accuracy of the total arrest figure if so many died in just one overcrowded cell.
These deaths occurred after operations on September 15 and 16. They took place in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State. Survivor accounts, cited by Saturday PUNCH, suggest as many as 65 individuals were crammed into a single cell. They struggled for air. Some survivors have also alleged that a perfumed substance was sprayed in the cell. This allegedly happened before detainees began collapsing. These claims are still unverified.
The Federal Government has officially suspended the Niger State NSCDC commandant. It has also ordered a thorough investigation. This joint effort involves the police and other relevant agencies. They aim to unravel the circumstances surrounding this mass death event. The situation underscores the challenges in regulating illegal mining activities. It also highlights the critical need for proper detention protocols across all security agencies.