Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday vowed that anyone found responsible for the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State would be brought to justice, declaring that “no uniform confers immunity from accountability”.

Shettima said the Federal Government would get to the root of the September 17 tragedy, stressing that a citizen taken into custody remains entitled to the state’s protection, regardless of the allegation against him.

The Vice President spoke in Minna during a condolence visit to Niger State, where he conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s sympathies to Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, families of the deceased and the people of the state.

In a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Shettima also announced a Federal Government donation of N250 million to the families of the 37 deceased persons.

The miners had been detained by the NSCDC on suspicion of illegal mining before their deaths in custody, with investigations still ongoing to establish the circumstances and cause of the fatalities.

Describing the incident as a stain on the nation’s conscience, Shettima said the government’s responsibility to protect the life and dignity of a Nigerian does not end when the person is taken into custody.

“The deaths of 37 young men in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are a blot on our national conscience. No parent should receive a body when they are waiting for a son to come home”, he said.

He said President Tinubu had already ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident, leading to the constitution of a 10-member independent investigative committee and the suspension of officers connected with the matter pending the outcome of the probe.

Shettima said the administration would not prejudge the investigation but would insist on establishing the truth and determining responsibility for the deaths.

“On President Tinubu’s directive, an independent investigative panel has been constituted to establish the facts, determine responsibility and lay the foundation for justice and closure.

“There can be no repose for leaders when lives are lost within the perimeter of their care. A citizen deprived of liberty remains entitled to the protection of the state. No allegation, however grave, diminishes that entitlement. No uniform confers immunity from accountability”, he said.

The Vice President stressed that the federal government’s response would go beyond determining the immediate cause of the deaths, insisting that accountability, justice and due process must follow the investigation.

“We owe justice to every soul lost, answers to every bereaved family and due process to every person under investigation. Whoever is found culpable must answer before the law. Our duty to you outlives this visit”, Shettima added.

A retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, chairs the independent committee, while former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, serves as secretary.

The panel Is mandated to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.

Shettima said the tragedy should serve as a reminder that law enforcement and respect for human dignity are not mutually exclusive.

“We have come to you today without the togas of partisan politics. We come as sympathisers, as parents, as uncles and aunts, as brothers and sisters, and, above all, as leaders entrusted with your protection.

“We have come to share your grief, to hear your concerns, to stand beside the bereaved and to reaffirm our obligation to protect every citizen, without distinction or exception”, he said.

The Vice President thanked Bago for supporting the efforts to establish the truth and for providing care to those affected by the incident.

“Every victim deserves dignity, every survivor deserves care, and every family deserves the truth”, he said, while praying for the repose of the souls of the deceased and strength for their families.

Bago, in his remarks, commended Shettima for visiting the state on behalf of the President, describing the gesture as a demonstration of empathy and solidarity with the bereaved families.

He noted that both Tinubu and Shettima were outside the country when the incident occurred, with the President on his annual vacation while the Vice President was representing Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly.

“Your message has been delivered clearly to the families and the people of Niger State that upon your return, insha Allah, you are here today. You have made it; we thank you,” Bago said.

The governor’s Principal Private Secretary, Emmanuel Umar, also said Shettima’s visit demonstrated that the Federal Government stood with the people of Niger State in their grief.

After the Niger State visit, Shettima proceeded to Maiduguri, Borno State, to condole with Governor Babagana Zulum over the death of Amina (Inna) Zulum.

The Vice President prayed for Allah to grant her Aljana Firdaus and give the family the fortitude to bear the loss. (The Nation)