The Federal Government-appointed committee investigating the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State has requested an additional two weeks to complete its work.
The chairman of the Independent Investigative Committee, retired Deputy Director of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, announced the request during a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
The extension means the committee’s final report, initially expected on October 7, will now be submitted by October 21.
Committee Says More Evidence Must Be Reviewed
Kure said the additional time was necessary to ensure the final report was thorough, credible and capable of withstanding public and official scrutiny.
He explained that investigators had received a substantial volume of testimony and documentary evidence that still required detailed examination and collation.
The committee is also awaiting forensic and pathology reports considered important to determining the circumstances and causes surrounding the deaths.
Fair Hearing for All Parties
The chairman stressed that the investigation must also give everyone connected to the incident an opportunity to respond to allegations against them.
This includes security personnel who have already been suspended in connection with the deaths.
Kure said allowing all implicated individuals to present their side was essential to producing findings that would command public confidence and withstand scrutiny.
Investigators Visit Niger State
The 10-member committee has already carried out extensive fieldwork as part of its investigation.
Kure said members travelled to Minna, where they met survivors of the incident and families of those who died.
The panel also visited the mining site where the affected miners were reportedly operating and inspected the Niger State Command headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, where the incident occurred.
NSCDC Personnel Also Questioned
Investigators have interviewed NSCDC personnel who were directly or indirectly involved in the events surrounding the deaths.
However, Kure said that part of the process had not yet been completed, despite the original deadline approaching.
The chairman indicated that investigators were continuing to engage with relevant personnel as they work towards completing the report.
Government and Communities Cooperating
Kure acknowledged the cooperation received from several parties during the investigation.
These include the leadership of the NSCDC, the Niger State Government and the emirate, as well as affected communities, survivors and witnesses.
He said the cooperation had helped the committee advance its investigation while emphasising the importance of maintaining a thorough and transparent process.
Panel Promises Justice
The committee chairman assured Nigerians that the additional two weeks would be used intensively to complete the investigation.
Kure said the panel would work without delay to ensure that its final findings properly address the circumstances surrounding the deaths and that justice is served wherever necessary.
He said the committee would not compromise its responsibility and intended to submit a report that reflected a comprehensive examination of the evidence.
37 Miners Died in NSCDC Custody
The Federal Government established the 10-member investigative panel after 37 suspected illegal miners died while in the custody of the NSCDC Niger Command on September 17.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths prompted the government to order an independent investigation into what happened.
The committee’s final report is now expected on October 21, following the two-week extension.
Chairman Mourns Ondo Helicopter Crash Victims
Kure also used the briefing to express condolences to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians following the military helicopter crash in Ondo State.
The chairman conveyed his sympathies as the investigative committee continues its work on the Niger State deaths.
