As the probe panel begins formal inquiry into the deaths of 37 miners in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) custody, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has reiterated that his administration is determined to ensure justice for the victims’ families.

The governor, who spoke yesterday in Minna during a courtesy visit by the panel, urged the commission to discharge its duty with all sincerity and the fear of God to ensure justice for the victims’ families, including looking into the victims’ arrest, the legality of their custody, their treatment while in detention, and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Bago further urged the commission to also look at the responsibility and accountability of officers, medical forensic investigation and evidence in making its findings and recommendations.

He promised the state government’s support, where necessary, to ensure the committee’s success, reminding members that the world was watching them.

Responding, the Chairman of the committee, Jonathan Kure, assured the committee’s independence and impartiality in discharging its work, adding that members would do their best to unravel what went wrong.

The retired deputy director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS) explained that the committee was in Minna to commence its task, adding that its medical team began work immediately after the inauguration to capture all the required elements in the investigation.

He further confirmed the commencement of the sitting today at the Teachers’ Professional Institute in Minna, requesting members of the public to attend and submit memoranda.

Meanwhile, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the state have urged political parties and actors to resist turning the deaths of the 37 artisanal miners into a partisan fight.

In a joint position paper, the CSOs, including the Open Government Partnership Non-State Actors Niger State, Coalition of Civil Society Niger State and the Resource Justice Network Niger State Chapter, said the tragedy must remain focused on accountability, human rights and justice for the victims and their families, rather than scoring some political points.

Noting that the deaths had created intense public grief and tension across the state, the groups warned political parties, actors and social commentators against weaponising the tragedy.

Beyond the immediate investigation, the groups said the crisis should prompt wider action on artisanal mining, arguing that poverty, hunger and limited livelihood opportunities were among the factors pushing young people into illegal mining.