Niger Miners’ Death: Deji Adeyanju Reveals How Evidence Was Destroyed

In a startling revelation regarding the tragedy in Minna, Niger State, a member of the federal government’s panel has alleged that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) cell where 33 suspected illegal miners lost their lives was thoroughly washed, disinfected, and renumbered in a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence.

Human rights attorney Deji Adeyanju, who served on the 10-member Independent Investigation Committee, made the disclosure on his social media handle on Wednesday, pointing directly to findings contained in the panel’s official submission.

“NSCDC Cell was washed clean, disinfected, renumbered in an attempt to destroy evidence after the death of 33 miners,” Mr Adeyanju wrote.

The explosive allegation deepens public scrutiny surrounding the custody deaths of the suspected artisanal miners at the Minna NSCDC facility back in September.

This update comes shortly after Adeyanju confirmed that the investigative panel had delivered its final findings to the federal government, recommending full murder prosecution for all officers connected to the fatalities alongside other criminal charges.

Additionally, the panel advocated for a complete restructuring of the NSCDC top command, formal monetary compensation for the bereaved families, and the legal integration of artisanal mining operations across the nation.

Providing further details on Wednesday, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo confirmed that the report characterized the loss of lives as a preventable custodial tragedy triggered by extreme cell congestion, poor ventilation, intense heat exposure, and severe dehydration.

Posting via his verified Facebook profile, Tunji-Ojo stated that committee findings firmly disproved any claims of a medical disease outbreak, identifying severe confinement conditions as the actual cause of death.

The minister confirmed that the panel’s recommendations have been forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for immediate prosecution, emphasizing that personnel who attempted to hide, compromise, or destroy evidence will face the full weight of the law.