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The independent committee constituted to investigate the reported deaths of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State will be inaugurated on Tuesday.
This is according to an invitation sent to members of the committee by its Secretary, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN.
The committee scribe said the inauguration would take place 12 noon on Tuesday at the Minister’s Conference Room, Federal Ministry of Interior, Old Federal Secretariat Area 1, Garki, FCT, Abuja.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the constitution of the committee in a Saturday statement.
The victims were arrested during enforcement operations by the NSCDC against illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16, and were found dead on September 17.
In his statement, Tunji-Ojo described the incident as deeply disturbing and said the Federal Government owes the families and the public a transparent account.
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President Bola Tinubu had also directed a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the incident.
The 10-member committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, with Prof. Chiroma as Secretary.
Other members include retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma, Prof. Olayinka Buhari, representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government, Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, Zainab Suleiman Okino and public affairs analyst George Agbakahi.
According to the minister, the committee is mandated to establish the identities of the deceased, examine the circumstances of their arrest and detention, determine the cause and circumstances of their deaths, and establish responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct.
It is also to recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable, and measures to prevent a recurrence.
The committee has two weeks to submit its report.
