Niger governor praises traditional rulers after deaths of 37 miners

Niger State Governor Umaru Bago has commended traditional rulers for helping maintain peace and harmony across the state, Channels Television reports. Bago spoke when a delegation led by the chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar, paid a condolence visit to him at the Government House in Minna. The governor thanked the rulers for their sympathy and described the visit as a sign of solidarity.

He particularly praised traditional institutions for supporting his administration and helping maintain law and order through ward and village heads. He also thanked the emirs, including the Emir of Minna, Umar Faruk Bahago, for helping keep communities calm. Bago described the deaths of 37 artisanal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps as unfortunate, saying the incident had drawn significant local and international attention.

The report does not provide further details about the deaths or any investigation. Abubakar described the deaths as tragic and called on stakeholders to follow the rules governing their activities. Bago said Niger faced challenges including insecurity and that his administration was working with the Federal Government to address them.