BAGO ORDERS INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH OF PRIVATE FIRM WORKER IN NSCDC CUSTODY

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has pledged to investigate the death of a private company employee, Emmanuel, who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Emmanuel was reportedly detained over an alleged financial discrepancy involving his employer before 37 suspected illegal miners were brought into the same detention facility in Minna. He was among those who later died in custody.

Bago said preliminary information suggested that some detainees were already being held at the facility before the suspected miners were arrested. He said the investigation would establish who was detained earlier and the circumstances surrounding Emmanuel’s detention and death.

According to family sources cited by Punch, Emmanuel had been arrested at his workplace after an alleged shortage was discovered in the company’s financial records. His parents reportedly appealed to his employer to secure his release while efforts were made to resolve the financial issue, but he remained in custody.

Emmanuel’s father, identified as Emeka, said he visited his son shortly before his death and found him in good condition. He said he returned to the NSCDC facility with food the following day and discovered that his son had died.

Bago assured residents that the government would conduct a thorough investigation into the deaths and make its findings public.

Meanwhile, the NSCDC said personnel responsible for the detention and deaths of the suspected miners had been arrested and transferred to its Abuja headquarters. The detention facility has also been sealed to allow the police to conduct their investigation.

The Federal Government has separately constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths of the 37 detainees and suspended officers linked to the incident pending the outcome of the probe.