Miners’ deaths: Shettima visits Niger, announces N250m support for victims’ families
The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against blaming the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, for the deaths of 37 illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, gave the warning on Monday during a visit to the governor over the deaths of the 37 miners, who lost their lives inside a detention facility of the NSCDC in Minna, Niger State.
Shettima, who conveyed the condolences of President Bola Tinubu to the governor and people of the state, demanded answers from the government and people of the state over the deaths.
He also announced N250m in Federal Government support to the families of the deceased, saying no amount of money could answer the questions of a grieving family.
The Vice President also cautioned against politicising the deaths or using the tragedy to demonise Governor Bago.
He said, “The death of 37 young men in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps calls for initial questions. A grieving mother cannot be consoled by grief, nor can grief answer a father’s questions.
“There can be no room for hiding for leaders when lives are lost within the perimeter of their sphere. We should avoid weaponising the departed to demonise Governor Bago. He had no hand in what has befallen their lives,” he said.
Shettima said the tragedy should transcend political, religious and other divisions, stressing that every citizen was entitled to the protection of the state.
He noted that every victim deserved dignity, survivors deserved care, while families deserved the truth about what happened.
Bago, in his remarks, thanked the Vice President for the visit and for conveying the President’s message. He described the visit as a demonstration of empathy and solidarity with the affected families and the people of Niger.
The governor noted that the message from the President had been clearly delivered to the victims’ families and the people of the state.
He lamented that Niger State had suffered several tragedies in recent times, including insecurity, mining-related incidents and petrol tanker explosions.
Bago subsequently invited relatives of some of the deceased to stand to be identified during the visit.
Some of the victims’ families who spoke after the visit expressed appreciation for the Vice President’s visit, saying it demonstrated that the Federal Government was concerned about the plight of the affected families.
