The Federal Government has announced N250 million in support for the families of 37 illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the intervention on Monday during a visit to Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago at the Government House in Minna.
Shettima was in the state to convey President Bola Tinubu’s condolences to Governor Bago, the bereaved families and the people of Niger State following the deaths.
The Vice President said the circumstances surrounding the deaths raised serious questions that needed to be answered, stressing that the families of the victims had a right to know what happened to their loved ones.
He, however, cautioned against blaming Bago for the incident or turning the tragedy into a political issue, insisting that the governor had no involvement in what happened.
“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,” Shettima said.
He also warned leaders and political actors against using the deaths to attack the Niger State governor.
“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 stressed that the tragedy should not be allowed to deepen political, religious or other divisions, noting that every Nigerian has a right to protection from the state.
According to him, the victims deserved to be treated with dignity, survivors should receive proper care, while the families of those who died deserved clear answers about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Vice President said the N250 million intervention would be provided by the Federal Government to assist the affected families.
He, however, acknowledged that financial assistance could not compensate for the loss of human lives or remove the pain suffered by the families.
Shettima urged stakeholders to respond to the tragedy with compassion and responsibility rather than allowing it to become another source of division.
Responding, Governor Bago thanked the Vice President for travelling to Niger State and for delivering President Tinubu’s condolences to the government and people of the state.
Bago described the visit as an expression of empathy and solidarity with the bereaved families and other residents affected by the tragedy.
The governor said the President’s message had been successfully conveyed to the victims’ families and the people of Niger State.
Bago also lamented that the state had experienced several tragedies in recent times, including insecurity, incidents linked to mining activities and petrol tanker explosions.
During the visit, the governor invited relatives of some of the deceased miners to stand and be identified.
Some of the victims’ relatives later expressed appreciation for Shettima’s visit and the Federal Government’s intervention.
The families said the Vice President’s presence showed that the Federal Government was concerned about their situation and had not abandoned them following the tragedy.
The N250 million support comes as questions remain over the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the 37 miners, with the Federal Government stressing the need for the families to receive answers while urging stakeholders to handle the matter with sensitivity.
