Vice President Kashim Shettima has formally announced a N250 million federal relief allocation to support the families of artisanal miners who tragically lost their lives while being held in custody by security forces in Niger State.
The development follows an escalation in the recorded death toll, which has now reached 38 individuals.The victims were initially detained during inter-agency enforcement operations targeting illegal mining hubs in the state.
Addressing community leaders and bereaved relatives, federal representatives emphasized that the monetary support is intended to offer immediate financial cushion to affected households while an official administrative panel conducts a transparent inquiry into the custody conditions and operational lapses that led to the fatalities.