Civil community organisations, CSOs, in Niger Situation have urged political parties and their supporters to prevent politicising the deaths of 37 artisanal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
They too commended Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for his comments to the incident, including the inauguration of a nine-person Judicial Commission of Inquiry and remark of three days of mourning.
Beyond the deaths, the organisations urged authorities to address the underlying conditions driving young individuals into artisanal mining.
The role was contained in a joint record signed by the Accessible Government Collaboration Non-Status Actors Niger Declare, Coalition of Civil Community Niger Situation, Instrument Justice Network Niger Situation Chapter, Culture for Peace Studies and Approach Niger Condition Chapter, and Available Alliance Niger Status.
They urged political parties and other actors to support the Judicial Commission of Inquiry by encouraging witnesses, survivors, families and members of the audience including applicable details to submit credible memoranda to the panel.
The organisations said the deaths had triggered grief and tension across the status, warning political actors against what they described as the “weaponisation” of the tragedy.
The groups called for secure and regulated community-based solid mineral governance that would protected lives whilst allowing mining communities to acquire from their regional resources.
They maintained that the identity of those responsible, the circumstances surrounding the deaths and any institutional failures must be recognized by path of credible investigations.
The groups said the deaths should be treated generally as a individual rights, accountability and justice problem, rather than an opening for political matter-scoring.
According to the groups, the require for justice must continue focused on determining what happened, securing accountability, protecting the rights of the deceased and their families, and preventing a recurrence.
They called for plenty protection and guide for survivors, eyewitnesses and families who may possess details concerning the conditions in the NSCDC facility, including allegations of overcrowding and inadequate ventilation.
They identified poverty, hunger and modest livelihood opportunities as factors contributing to the involvement of young persons in unsafe and unregulated mining activities.
The groups furthermore cautioned against political interference and premature media trials, saying the structured investigative processes should be allowed to establish the facts.
The organisations stated that the findings of the declare inquiry and the current federal investigation should restate into concrete reforms, particularly in detention facilities and procedures for handling suspects.
They additional said the deaths of the ‘Minna 37’ should become a catalyst for justice, accountability and institutional reform, rather than deepen partisan divisions in Niger Status.
Don’t politicise deaths of 37 miners – Niger CSOs urge political parties
Source: Don’t politicise deaths of 37 miners – Niger CSOs urge political parties
