Abuja:The Independent Investigative Committee, established by the Federal Government to investigate the deaths of 37 alleged illegal miners, has requested an additional two weeks to complete its report.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the committee’s chairman, retired Deputy Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) Jonathan Kure, announced during a news conference in Abuja that the extension is necessary to ensure a thorough and credible final report. Originally scheduled for submission on October 7, the report is now expected by October 21.
The committee, composed of ten members, was tasked with probing the deaths of the miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Niger Command on September 17. Kure explained that the investigation requires more time due to the extensive volume of testimonies and documents that must be reviewed, as well as pending forensic and pathology reports crucial for determining the cause of death.
Kure emphasized the importance of allowing all implicated individuals, including already suspended officers, to respond adequately to ensure the committee’s findings are robust and credible. He outlined the committee’s efforts to ensure transparency, noting visits to Minna to meet survivors, interactions with bereaved families, and inspections of both the mining site and NSCDC command headquarters where the incident occurred.
The chairman also acknowledged the cooperation received from the NSCDC management, the Niger Government, local communities, survivors, and witnesses. He vowed that the committee is committed to delivering justice and would work tirelessly within the extended timeframe to ensure the report’s integrity and effectiveness.
Kure concluded by expressing condolences to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians over a separate military helicopter crash in Ondo.