The Federal Government panel investigating the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has requested an additional two weeks to complete its work.
The panel, led by retired Department of State Services Deputy Director-General Jonathan Kure, was expected to submit its report Wednesday, 7th October.
The government has approved the extension, moving the deadline to 21st October.
Kure said the committee had made “appreciable progress” but needed more time because of the volume of evidence and pending forensic and pathology reports.
“We are still awaiting the forensic and pathology reports.
"Those of you who know medical investigation know that will take some time,” he said.
The panel has visited the NSCDC custody facility in Minna, the mining site and the agency’s Niger State command headquarters.
It has also conducted autopsies and interviewed NSCDC personnel, survivors, relatives of the deceased and other witnesses.
Kure said preliminary findings had revealed “some elements of institutional gaps,” “over-zealousness” by some officers and a need for more training and professionalism.
He said the additional time would allow the panel to review the evidence and give all people implicated in the incident, including suspended officers, an opportunity to respond.
The Federal Government constituted the 10-member panel after President Bola Tinubu ordered a comprehensive investigation into the deaths.
The government also suspended the Niger State NSCDC commandant and 20 other officers pending the outcome of the probe.
The panel is expected to determine the cause and manner of death and establish whether negligence, misconduct, complicity or breaches of duty occurred.
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