By: Adelowo Oladipo, Minna
Thẹ Federal Government has donated the sum of N50m to thẹ deceased families ọf thirty seven Artisanal Miners that lost their lives in the custody ọf Niger state Command ọf thẹ Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced thẹ donation whẹn hẹ visited thẹ Government and people ọf Niger state including thẹ briefed families of the deceased on Monday in Minna, Niger State Capital to Commisserate with them ọver thẹ tragic loss.
Represented by Vice President, His Excellency Kashim Shettima, the President who explained that though nọ amount ọf money can equate thẹ lives lost, saying it is meant to cushion thẹ hardships and grief suffered due to thẹ irreplaceable loss and prayed Allah to forgive thẹ deceased and console thẹ bereaved families .
According to him thẹ Federal Government has Constituted an Independent Panel to investigate thẹ problem, while assuring that any person found wanting would be made to face thẹ full wrath ọf thẹ law.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also take advantage of thẹ visit to exornorate thẹ Niger state Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago from any wrong doing ọver thẹ death ọf thirty seven Artisanal Miners that died in Civil Defence custody as according to him thẹ Agency is directly under thẹ Federal Government and not thẹ state.
Hẹ however reaffirmed thẹ determination ọf thẹ Federal Government in thẹ protection ọf lives and properties ọf Nigerians without exception.
In his remarks, Niger state Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago thanked thẹ Vice President for thẹ visit saying that “whẹn thẹ incident occurred President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was away on vocation outside the Country while Vice President Shettima was in New York representing his Boss at thẹ United Nations General Assembly.
Thẹ Governor said thẹ visit ọf Vice President Shettima coincided with thẹ day thẹ committee set up by Niger state Government under thẹ Chairmanship ọf his Deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba with Emir ọf Minna HRM Alhaji (Dr)Umar Faruk Bahago is to submit their report while Governor Umaru Bago will on Monday 5th October 2026 present palliatives to thẹ bereaved families.
