Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has warned that anyone who attempts to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct investigations into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State will face legal consequences.

Tunji-Ojo issued the warning on Tuesday in Abuja while inaugurating a 10-member independent investigative committee established to investigate the deaths of the detainees in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The minister directed the NSCDC leadership and officers connected to the incident to cooperate fully with the committee and ensure that all records and material evidence are preserved and made available to investigators.

He said the government was determined to establish the truth and ensure accountability, regardless of the position of anyone found culpable.

“We owe you the truth. This committee will give you the truth,” Tunji-Ojo told Nigerians, adding that no officer or individual would be shielded if found culpable.

He also assured families of the deceased that the government would not abandon them, while urging them to remain calm as the investigation continues.

Tunji-Ojo said the committee’s findings would not be ignored and that individuals found responsible could face prosecution or other sanctions in accordance with the law.

The committee, chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, is tasked with establishing the identities of the deceased and examining the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention.

It will also investigate the cause and circumstances of the deaths, determine responsibility, negligence, misconduct or complicity, and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable.

The committee has two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report to the Minister of Interior.

What happened to the miners?

The deaths occurred on September 17, following the arrest of suspected illegal miners during NSCDC operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16.

The NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, but the actual cause remains under investigation.

Survivors have alleged that detainees were kept in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell and that an unidentified substance was sprayed inside. Those claims are among the issues the investigation is expected to examine.

The Federal Government has suspended Niger State NSCDC Commandant Suberu Aniviye and 20 other officers pending the outcome of the investigation. The NSCDC subsequently said 24 personnel were in custody as part of its preliminary investigation.

The Corps also paraded its state commandant and other officers linked to the incident at its national headquarters in Sauka, Abuja, on Sunday.