The Federal Government has announced a N250 million support package for the families of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, as the state government confirmed that the death toll from the incident had risen to 38.
Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the financial support on Monday during a condolence visit to Minna, where he conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s condolences to Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, the bereaved families and the people of the state.
Shettima assured the families that the Federal Government would get to the root of the incident and ensure that anyone found responsible was held accountable in accordance with the law.
He described the deaths of the 37 men while in NSCDC custody as a matter of national concern, stressing that citizens remain entitled to protection, dignity and humane treatment even when they are detained on allegations of wrongdoing.
The Vice President said President Tinubu had already ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, with an independent 10-member investigative committee constituted to establish the facts and determine responsibility.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Government confirmed that the death toll had risen to 38 after one additional person was killed by gunshot during the unrest that followed the deaths in custody. Governor Bago also disclosed that 32 survivors had so far been recorded.
Bago thanked the Federal Government for the intervention and announced additional state support of N5 million for each bereaved family and N2 million for each survivor.
He also called for stronger regulation of the mining sector and greater efforts to provide safe and legal economic opportunities for young people in the state.
The Federal Government had earlier suspended the NSCDC commandant in Niger State following the incident and ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Shettima urged all parties to allow the investigation to establish the facts, assuring the affected families that the government would pursue justice while ensuring due process for anyone found culpable.
