Interior minister Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
- sets up 10-member probe panel
Interior minister, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has suspended 21 officers of the Niger State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), pending the conclusion of investigation into the deaths of 37 inmates in the custody of the command.
The deceased, who were being detained by the command over alleged illegal mining, died last Thursday in circumstances yet to be unraveled.
Besides, he constituted a ten-member independent committee to probe the incident within two weeks.
A statement on Saturday, signed by the minister , said the action followed a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, “for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident.”
Ojo directed the suspension of all officers involved in the incident pending the conclusion of the independent committee’s investigation.
He described the deaths as deeply disturbing, saying the government owes the families of the deceased and the Nigerian public a transparent account of the events leading to the incident.
According to the statement, “The independent committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased, and investigate their arrests, detention and the cause and circumstances of their deaths.
“The Minister directed the committee to determine responsibility, complicity, negligence, and misconduct, and to recommend appropriate action, compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.
“The Minister also directed the NSCDC leadership and all relevant officers to cooperate fully with the Committee, while further directing that all records and material evidence connected to the incident be preserved and made available to the investigators.”
He warned, “Any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation will be treated as a serious offence.”
The statement said, “The Committee may co-opt relevant experts, access all necessary facilities and documents, visit relevant locations and request memoranda from members of the public. It has two weeks to complete its work and submit its report to the Minister.”
Members of the Committee are:
- Mr Jonathan Kure, mni, retired Deputy Director-General, Department of State Services, as Chairman;
- Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN), former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, as Secretary;
- AIG Hosea Hassan Karma (retired)
- Prof. Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital;
- Representative of the Minna Emirate Council;
- Representative of the Niger State Government;
- Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary, Miners Association of Nigeria;
- Mr Deji Adeyanju, lawyer and human rights activist;
- Mrs Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and
- Dr. George Agbakahi, Public Affairs Analyst.
