Governor Bago Imposes 12 Hours Curfew in Minna Niger State
By YM Bina
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago has imposed a 12-hour curfew across the state capital sequel to vandalization that took over on the the streets in respond to the deaths of 37 artisanal miners in Civil Defence custody in Minna.
He announced that the curfew would take effect immediately after Friday prayers from 6pm to 6am daily to prevent further chaos and
warned that vandals were taking over the streets and that immediate action was required to restore order.
Addressing federal officials including the Minister of Interior, Bago explained that the mob action that erupted has left the state transport company’s fleet vandalised, Sterlin Bank hit, party offices destroyed and private businesses looted.
The Governor stated that though survivors reported suffocation and dehydration, preliminary forensic findings showed foam mixed with bloodstains in some mouths and peeling skin, leaving open the possibility of methane, cyanide or lead poisoning calling for a full investigation into the root cause.
Responding, the Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo expressed the federal government’s deep sympathy and assured that the incident would not be allowed to slide.
He said President Bola Tinubu was concerned and that the Ministry of Interior would collaborate fully with the Niger State Government to get to the root of the matter and prevent any recurrence.
The unrest followed the discovery of the 37 bodies among a group of about 67 people arrested at an illegal mining site in M I Wushishi and held in Civil Defence cells.
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