Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has said his inclusion in the Federal Government’s independent committee investigating the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State is not a political appointment but a duty to seek justice for the victims.
Adeyanju stated this on Monday during Channels Television’s Morning Brief program.
The 37 persons, who reportedly include minors, died on September 17 while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna, Niger State, after being arrested on suspicion of illegal mining. The incident has sparked outrage after claims that the deaths were caused by a disease outbreak.
President Bola Tinubu had directed a comprehensive and transparent investigation, leading the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to constitute a 10-member independent committee chaired by retired DSS Deputy Director-General, Jonathan Kure. The committee is mandated to establish the identities of the deceased, investigate the circumstances of their arrest and detention, determine the cause of death and recommend actions, including compensation and prevention measures.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding his acceptance to serve on the panel, Adeyanju said:
I feel that I’m there on that committee to serve the interests of those who have been murdered, you know, brutally and gruesomely murdered, so I am there to represent the victims and I’ll make sure that there is no cover-up or that nobody tries to suppress any wrongdoing and if they try to do so I will expose them.”
Responding to questions from anchor Geoff Uzono, who noted that many Nigerians were curious why a known critic of government like Adeyanju would accept a Federal Government appointment, Adeyanju rejected the tag.
It can’t be an appointment in my view because the death of little children, if you see the picture, if you watch the videos, how can that be an appointment to go and unravel how people were killed in the cell? What kind of, how can anybody even consider that to be an appointment? Something must be wrong.”
Adeyanju had earlier in a statement on Saturday said he would not accept any stipend, honorarium or monetary provision from government for the assignment, describing it as a national duty. He said he would personally bear his accommodation and transportation costs.
He also warned that he would publicly expose any attempt to compromise the investigation or shield those responsible.
