The Niger State Government has constituted a committee of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 37 suspected artisanal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, the state capital.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago announced the decision on Friday after a closed-door meeting with stakeholders and heads of security agencies over the incident.
Bago also declared three days of mourning in honour of the deceased miners.
The governor, while commiserating with the families of the victims, appealed for calm, assuring residents that the state government and relevant security agencies were working to establish what led to the deaths.
He said the committee would investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and provide clarity on the cause of the deaths.
As part of measures following the incident, Bago also announced the suspension of the All Progressives Congress (APC) political rally scheduled to hold in Minna this weekend.
The development comes amid growing concerns over the deaths of the suspected artisanal miners who were arrested during enforcement operations in the state and subsequently died while in NSCDC custody.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths have triggered calls for a transparent and independent investigation to establish responsibility and ensure accountability.
