The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has dispatched a high-powered team of ministerial experts to Niger State following the tragic deaths of 33 suspected illegal artisanal miners while in custody in Minna, the state capital.
The victims were reportedly arrested during a joint security sweep targeting illegal mining operations across local communities in Niger State and were being held in detention facilities pending formal prosecution before the fatal incident occurred.
In a statement on Friday in Abuja, the Minister expressed profound grief over the loss of lives, describing the event as a monumental tragedy that demands a thorough and transparent investigation.
‘It is with profound shock and deep sorrow that I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the entire people of the state over the tragic loss of lives among detained citizens in Minna,’ Alake stated.
‘The loss of any life is a deeply painful occurrence, and a tragedy of this magnitude affects us all. During this solemn period of state mourning, my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the communities bearing the weight of this grief.’
Commending Governor Umaru Bago for declaring a state period of mourning and initiating an official inquiry into the tragedy, the Minister underscored the necessity of determining the precise facts surrounding the custody deaths.
‘I commend Governor Bago’s swift administrative response in declaring a period of mourning and establishing an investigative framework to uncover the full circumstances of this unfortunate incident,’ Alake noted.
‘A thorough, transparent, and independent inquiry is vital to ensure accountability and prevent any recurrence of such distress in our detention and correctional facilities.’
Clarifying the Ministry’s immediate intervention due to the operational background of the deceased, Alake revealed that the federal expert team would work closely with state authorities and security agencies to establish full accountability.
‘Given the allegation that the detained persons were arrested on suspicion of carrying out illegal mining, I have deployed a high-powered team of officials to Niger State to investigate the circumstances and ascertain the facts of the matter,’ the Minister declared.
‘The team will collaborate with other investigators to provide a comprehensive report on the incident.’
Alake then offered prayers for the deceased and their surviving kin: ‘May the Almighty comfort the families affected and grant the souls of the departed eternal rest.’