Independent Committee of Inquiry set up by the Federal Government to investigate the deaths of 37 illegal miners in NSCDC Custody in Niger State has begun sitting.
Secretary of the committee, Prof Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
The committee was inaugurated by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Ojo on Tuesday.
Recall that about 60 young illegal miners were arrested and detained in a cell belonging to the NSCDC out of which 37 died of excessive heat, as confirmed by some survivors.
According to the statement, the committee held its inaugural meeting immediately after its inauguration and adopted a work plan to guide the investigation.
The statement said the committee would visit all relevant sites, engage with government agencies, interview survivors, suspects and other relevant persons, and obtain all necessary materials to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
Chiroma also said its medical team had commenced work to determine the causes, mechanisms and manner of deaths.
He appealed to members of the public to support its investigation, adding that it had resolved to invite memoranda from interested individuals and organisations.
The committee said details on the submission of memoranda, including the venue and date for physical presentations, would be communicated in due course.
