The Nigeria Police Force has secured the scene of the incident in Niger State where 37 suspected illegal miners died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, as part of efforts to preserve evidence for investigation.
The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, disclosed this on Saturday after inspecting the scene alongside Niger State Governor Umar Bago and other security officials.
Disu said the scene had been secured to ensure that no evidence was removed, altered or introduced before the investigation was concluded.
“We have to keep the place safe, we have to keep it clean, we have to ensure that nothing is removed and nothing is added at the scene of the incident,” he said.
The IGP said the police and other security agencies had deployed personnel to the area following demonstrations and riots sparked by the deaths. He said the situation had since returned to calm after the governor imposed a curfew.
“We noticed before the past two or three hours, there had been some kind of demonstration and riot. People wanted to take the law into their hands, but luckily and decisively, the governor of the state declared a curfew and the town is calm,” Disu said.
He appealed to residents to remain peaceful, assuring them that the investigation would be transparent and that no relevant information would be withheld.
“We assure them that nothing will be kept out from their knowledge. We will not hide anything, and we will be transparent,” he said.
Disu said the police would work with the committee established by the state government, the NSCDC and other security agencies to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“The governor has, at the same time, set up a committee. We are going to work with the committee, we are going to work with the NSCDC and other security agencies to ensure that the truth is unravelled,” he said.
The deaths followed the arrest of suspected illegal miners at an illegal mining site in the state.
Bago had earlier said it was too early to determine the cause of the deaths, adding that overcrowding and possible poisoning were among the factors being investigated.
The governor said preliminary autopsy findings showed that some of the bodies had burns and peeling skin, while foaming from the mouth and blood stains were also observed.
The state government has suspended mining activities across Niger State pending the outcome of the investigation. The Federal Ministry of Mines has also constituted a team of scientists and laboratory experts to investigate the incident.
The deaths triggered demonstrations and attacks on public and private property in parts of the state, prompting the governor to impose a curfew.
