Niger miners’ deaths: FG pledges N250m support to families

FILE: President Bola Tinubu

The Federal Government has pledged N250m in support to the families of the 37 illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State.

Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the assistance on Monday during a visit to Governor Umaru Bago to convey President Bola Tinubu’s condolences to the government, people and families of the deceased.

Shettima also demanded answers over the deaths, saying the incident raised serious questions about how the miners died while in the custody of the NSCDC.

He, however, warned against politicising the tragedy or using it to demonise Bago, saying the governor had no hand in the deaths.

“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.

The Vice President said the N250m federal support was meant to assist the bereaved families, stressing that no amount of money could answer the questions of a grieving family.

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He said the tragedy should transcend political, religious and other divisions, noting that every citizen was entitled to the protection of the state.

Shettima added that every victim deserved dignity, survivors deserved care, while the families deserved to know the truth about what happened.

Bago, in his remarks, thanked the Vice President for the visit and for conveying the President’s condolences.

He described the visit as a demonstration of empathy and solidarity with the affected families and the people of Niger State.

The governor said the President’s message had been clearly delivered to the victims’ families and the people of the state.

Bago lamented that Niger had suffered several tragedies in recent times, including insecurity, mining-related incidents and petrol tanker explosions.

During the visit, the governor invited relatives of some of the deceased to stand for identification.

Some of the victims’ families, who spoke after the visit, expressed appreciation to the Vice President, saying his visit demonstrated the Federal Government’s concern for their plight.