Amid protests in Minna the Niger state capital over the death of 37 miners in the state, that reportedly led to the death of a protester, the Niger State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in the state.
Announcing the decision in a news conference on Friday, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, said the curfew takes effect immediately after Juma’at prayers.
Governor Mohammed Bago had earlier described the ugly development as “sad” and “tragic.”
Tension rose on Friday morning in Minna
Minna, the capital of Niger State as gunshots rang out during a confrontation between residents and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody.
The 37 victims were among scores of people arrested during an NSCDC operation targeting suspected illegal mining activities around M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto villages in the Minna area on September 15 and 16.
While the cause of the deaths are yet to be unraveled, the bodies were subsequently deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for a medical examination.
According to reports, some relatives have also challenged the claim that everyone arrested was involved in illegal mining, with a woman identified as Gloria alleging that her sister was arrested while working on a farm and had only a hoe and a cutlass with her.
There were also claims that some of those detained were children between nine and 14 years old, while women were reportedly among those arrested. The allegations have not been independently verified, while the NSCDC has maintained that the detainees were suspected illegal miners.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Police Command has opened an investigation into the deaths.
As a way of showing empathy and transparency, the Federal Government also suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending an investigation into the incident.
