By Isiaka Mustapha, Editor in Chief, People’s Security Monitor

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday visited Minna, Niger State, to convey the condolences of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government to the families of the 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.Shettima, who met with Governor Umaru Bago, traditional rulers and representatives of the bereaved families, described the incident as a painful tragedy and a matter of national concern, insisting that the circumstances surrounding the deaths must be fully established and anyone found culpable made to face the law.

The Vice President also warned against politicising the tragedy, appealing to Nigerians to resist attempts to turn the deaths into a partisan issue or use the incident to demonise individuals. He said the government’s responsibility was to protect the lives and dignity of citizens irrespective of their political, ethnic, religious or social backgrounds. Shettima said the fact that the deceased were suspected of illegal mining did not diminish their fundamental rights while in government custody, stressing that every person deprived of liberty remained entitled to protection by the state.

According to him, President Tinubu had already ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident, while a 10 member independent investigative committee had been constituted to establish the facts, determine responsibility and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence. Officers connected with the incident have also been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Vice President maintained that the government would not prejudge the investigation but would ensure that the truth was established through due process. He stressed that no uniform or official position could shield anyone found to have contributed to the deaths from accountability.Shettima described the deaths as a blot on the nation’s conscience, saying the government owed the bereaved families justice, answers and support.

He appealed to the people of Niger State to remain calm and allow the investigative process to run its course.He announced a ₦250 million Federal Government support package for the families of the 37 victims, saying the gesture was intended to provide immediate assistance to the bereaved families as the government continues to address the wider consequences of the tragedy.

The Vice President commended Governor Bago for his efforts to support the affected families and pursue justice, while also urging the people of the state to maintain unity and avoid actions capable of further deepening tensions arising from the incident.Earlier, Bago thanked Shettima for personally visiting Minna, describing the visit as a demonstration of empathy and solidarity with the people of Niger State. The governor assured the Federal Government that the state would continue to cooperate with the investigative authorities in establishing what led to the deaths.

The Niger State Government has also provided financial assistance to the affected families, presenting ₦5 million to each family of the 37 deceased miners, while 32 survivors received ₦2 million each as support. The state government said the intervention was aimed at cushioning the economic impact of the tragedy on the victims and their families. The deaths occurred after the suspects were arrested during operations against alleged illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State.

The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain the subject of investigation, following widespread public concern and demands for transparency and accountability. The Federal Government has maintained that the investigation must be transparent and unhindered, with President Tinubu earlier directing that the circumstances of the arrests, detention conditions, medical attention provided and events leading to the deaths be thoroughly examined. For the bereaved families, however, the central demand remains justice and a clear explanation of how the men died while under state custody. Shettima assured them that the Federal Government would pursue the truth and ensure that responsibility was established on the basis of evidence rather than political considerations.