By Ado Oyeyemi
The 10-member committee set up by the Federal Government to investigate the deaths of 37 artisanal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has assured the victims’ families of a fair and independent investigation.
The committee gave the assurance on Monday when its Chairman and retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, led members on a courtesy visit to the Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, at the Government House in Minna.
Kure said the panel had arrived in the state to commence the investigation mandated by President Bola Tinubu.
He disclosed that the medical team attached to the committee had already commenced work shortly after the panel was inaugurated.
According to him, the early commencement of the medical examination was necessary to preserve evidence and establish facts that could help determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the miners.
The committee chairman assured the victims’ families that the panel would conduct its assignment independently and without bias.
Kure said the investigation would establish what happened and determine responsibility where necessary, while ensuring that individuals wrongly linked to the incident were not unfairly treated.
He said, “We will do our best to unravel what went wrong and apportion blame where blame needs to go.
Anybody who has been brought into this that has nothing to do with it, where we see it, we will also be fair to such a person.”
Kure expressed condolences to the Niger State Government and residents over the incident, describing it as a serious matter of concern to both the state and the country.
Responding, Governor Bago thanked the committee for visiting the state and pledged his administration’s support to enable it carry out its mandate effectively.
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The governor also expressed confidence in the committee and promised to provide the necessary assistance for the successful completion of the investigation.
