A mortician at the Minna General Hospital has told the judicial commission investigating the deaths of suspected illegal miners in Niger State that 33 corpses were deposited at the hospital.

The mortician, Dr Chinweokwu Alaribe, disclosed this while testifying before the nine-member commission, chaired by Justice Mohammed Mohammed, at its resumed sitting in Minna.

Alaribe, who works with Respectful Care Mortician, the private firm managing the hospital’s mortuary, said the 33 bodies were brought to the facility in two batches by ambulance on September 17.

According to him, two nurses from the NSCDC medical unit, identified as Mariam and Hauwa, accompanied the bodies to the hospital.

“I’m only aware that 33 corpses were brought in. I’m not aware of any 37 as reported. I cannot count the corpses that were not in the mortuary. I only know that 33 corpses were brought to me,” he told the commission.

This testimony adds a new dimension to the investigation regarding the deaths of the suspected miners, who were among those arrested during an NSCDC operation against suspected illegal mining activities in Minna.

The government and authorities had reported that 37 detainees died in custody, prompting investigations into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Alaribe told the commission that when the bodies arrived at the mortuary, some had blood and fluid coming from their noses and mouths, while the skin of some of the deceased was peeling.

He said 20 bodies were released to their relatives for burial on the evening they arrived, while another 10 were released over the following two days.

The remaining three bodies were still at the mortuary at the time of his testimony as he identified them as those of Kabir Suleiman, Samuel Sambo and Emeka Emmanuel.

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According to the witness, the release of the three bodies had been delayed on the instructions of a presidential panel of inquiry expected to inspect them.

Explaining why he released 20 bodies on the day they arrived, Alaribe said a large crowd had gathered at the hospital and was forcing its way into the premises.

“I released the corpses because the crowd were forcing themselves into the hospital to the point that they were even destroying the gate,” he said.

The mortician also disclosed that the NSCDC had deposited N1.5 million with the hospital through the two nurses to cover the cost of transporting the bodies by ambulance from the corps’ headquarters to the hospital.

In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Niger State, Muhammad Nami, has donated N15 million and 38 motorcycles to the bereaved families.

The donation fulfilled a pledge made by Nami and was presented through the Niger South Foundation, a non-governmental organisation he established about 20 years ago to support vulnerable members of society.

A delegation led by Nami’s deputy governorship candidate, Dahiru Danhazami Abdul, presented the funds and motorcycles to the affected families on his behalf urging the bereaved families to remain strong despite the loss of their loved ones.

He said the intervention was intended to demonstrate solidarity with the families and provide practical support as they cope with the consequences of the tragedy.

The Chairman of the Niger South Foundation, Dr Muhammed Shabba, said the organisation remained committed to assisting vulnerable people, particularly those facing hardship following unforeseen circumstances adding that the donation reflected the foundation’s concern for the welfare of the affected families and its determination to help ease their difficulties. (The Nation)