- Safiu Kehinde
The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has vowed to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the death of 37 suspected illegal miners at the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State are judiciously probed and identified.
Tunji-Ojo made the vow while speaking during his condolence visit to the state’s governor, Umaru Bago, on Friday.
The minister, while commiserating with the state government, assured the people of the state that the ministry will unravel the root cause of the tragic incident which occurred on Thursday.
‘I’m here to commiserate with His Excellency. As we all say, God knows best, but we must ensure that we get to the root of the matter and if there is a promise we want to make to you, it is that we will get to the root of the matter.
‘We will ensure that this doesn’t happen again.’ He said.
Tunji-Ojo described Niger as a very crucial state in Nigeria’s development.
He noted that the state had over the past years maintained good track record, stressing that the tragic incident will not be permitted to destroy the upward trajectory of the state.
The minister informed the state government that President Bola Tinubu is equally aware of the incident as well as actions already taken by the Federal Government.
‘Niger state is very key to Nigeria. As a matter of fact, in the last four years plus, I think it is all been good news coming from Niger and we will not allow this to destroy the upward trajectory of Niger within the Nigeria entity.
‘I want to assure you from the ministry of interior that you have our biggest and highest sympathy. And I want to assure you that Mr. President is concerned and of course he is worred abut this.
‘As a government, I want to assure you that this will not slide and our antecedent speaks to the veracity of our assurances.
‘Everytime we have our back against the wall in the ministry, we always bounce back, making sure it never happens again.’ He added.