Niger miners’ deaths: Adeyanju accepts committee role

Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.

Lawyer and human rights activist, Deji Adeyanju, has accepted an invitation to join the Federal Government’s committee investigating the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State, but said he would reject any payment for his participation.

Adeyanju disclosed this in a statement posted on his X handle on Saturday, saying he accepted the responsibility to ensure that the interests of the victims were adequately represented and the truth established.

“I am joining the committee solely to protect the interests of the victims and ensure that the truth is established,” he said.

The Federal Government had constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of the 37 detainees reportedly arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Adeyanju urged the government not to provide any monetary provision, stipend or honorarium for members of the committee, describing the assignment as a national duty.

“I will not accept any such payment, and I will not participate in or tolerate any attempt to compromise the investigation or cover up wrongdoing,” he said.

He added that he would personally bear the cost of his hotel accommodation, transportation and other expenses incurred during the assignment.

Adeyanju also warned that he would expose any attempt to shield those responsible for the deaths or suppress the truth.

“If there is any attempt to shield those responsible or suppress the truth, I will expose it. The victims deserve justice, and the Nigerian factor as we know it must not be allowed to prevail,” he said.

The committee is chaired by a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, while Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, serves as secretary.

Other members include retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor Olayinka Buhari, a professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government; National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Liman Sulaiman; Blueprint Newspaper’s Zainab Suleiman Okino; and public affairs analyst, Dr George Agbakahi.

The committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrests and detention, as well as determine the cause of their deaths.

It will also determine responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct and recommend appropriate action, including compensation where applicable.

The committee has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.