Niger Miners’ Deaths: Adeyanju Reacts As FG Names Him Among 10-Man Committee

Prominent lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju has agreed to serve on the Federal Government’s newly established investigative committee tasked with uncovering the circumstances behind the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State, while firmly turning down any financial compensation.

Adeyanju made his stance public via a statement shared on his X account on Saturday, emphasizing that his primary motivation for taking up the role is to safeguard the rights of the victims and guarantee total transparency.

“I am joining the committee solely to protect the interests of the victims and ensure that the truth is established,” he stated.

The Federal Government constituted the 10-member independent panel to look into the fatalities linked to individuals reportedly apprehended by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Calling for strict integrity from the onset, Adeyanju urged authorities to withhold any stipends, allowances, or honorariums meant for panel members, categorizing the role as a matter of pure national service.

“I will not accept any such payment, and I will not participate in or tolerate any attempt to compromise the investigation or cover up wrongdoing,” he asserted.

Furthermore, he committed to personally financing his logistical expenses, covering hotel lodging, travel costs, and other incidental outlays tied to the official assignment.

The activist also issued a stern warning that he would blow the whistle on any calculated moves to shield culpable individuals or bury the facts.

“If there is any attempt to shield those responsible or suppress the truth, I will expose it. The victims deserve justice, and the Nigerian factor as we know it must not be allowed to prevail,” he warned.

Heading the investigative body is Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, with Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, functioning as the secretary.

Additional members appointed to the panel comprise retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor Olayinka Buhari, a histopathology expert and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; delegates representing the Minna Emirate Council and the Niger State Government.

The roster is rounded out by Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and Dr. George Agbakahi, a public affairs analyst.

The panel’s core mandate involves identifying the deceased victims, examining arrest and detention protocols, pinpointing exact causes of mortality, assigning accountability for any negligence or misconduct, and proposing necessary remedies, including financial compensation where valid.

The committee operates under a strict two-week timeframe to finalize its findings and submit a comprehensive report to Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior.