President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.

He directed that officials found to have contributed to the deaths be arrested and prosecuted.

Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, said the reported deaths were a grave matter requiring urgent investigation and accountability.

He said the life of every Nigerian mattered and that no citizen should die in government custody as a result of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty.

“Where the investigation establishes that any official, through action, abuse or negligence, contributed to these deaths, such an officer must be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. There must be accountability,” the President said.

Tinubu said the Federal Government would continue to combat illegal mining and other criminal activities but stressed that enforcement operations must comply with the law and respect the rights of people in custody.

“The fact that these individuals were suspected of illegal mining does not in any way remove their right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody.

“Government will not tolerate mass deaths arising from official negligence, dereliction of duty or failure by public officials to protect the lives placed under their care,” he said.

The President directed that the investigation cover the circumstances of the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the conditions under which they were detained, the number of people held at the facility, the medical attention provided and the events leading to their deaths.

He also warned that the suspension of officers must not be regarded as a substitute for determining whether criminal responsibility exists.

“The suspension of officers is only an administrative step and must not substitute for a proper determination of criminal responsibility where the evidence warrants prosecution,” Tinubu said.

The President directed the Ministry of Interior and the NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with the relevant investigative authorities and ensure that no officer interfered with the investigation or frustrated efforts to establish the truth.

The deaths occurred after suspected illegal miners were arrested during enforcement operations in the Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Niger State on September 15 and 16.

Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, subsequently confirmed that 37 suspected illegal miners died in NSCDC custody, with forensic examinations, medical examinations and autopsies being conducted to establish the cause of the deaths.

The NSCDC also constituted an investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, their period in custody, detention conditions and the medical attention provided to them.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and ordered a full investigation into the incident.

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, also said nobody found culpable would be shielded, while cautioning against prejudging the outcome of the investigation.

Former Vice President and 2027 ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had also demanded accountability over the deaths, calling for an independent, thorough and transparent investigation.

Meanwhile, Bago imposed a 24-hour curfew in Niger State following protests and destruction of property linked to the deaths.

The governor said the State Transport Company’s buses, a Sterling Bank branch, political party offices and private businesses had been vandalised during the unrest.

Tinubu appealed for calm among the families and communities affected by the deaths, assuring them that the Federal Government would pursue the truth and take appropriate action based on credible evidence.

“We must never allow the pursuit of one form of illegality to create another. The government must enforce the law firmly, but it must also obey the law. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable,” he said.

Source: punchng.com

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Motorists in Lagos can verify the authenticity of traffic tickets and check their vehicle status through official government platforms, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has advised.

According to the ministry on X on Friday, the advisory comes amid concerns over fraudulent text messages and malicious links being circulated to motorists.

Scammers are allegedly posing as government agencies and claiming that recipients have committed traffic offences.

Motorists are advised not to click on unverified links, disclose personal or banking information, or make payments through third-party platforms.

To verify a traffic ticket, motorists can use the Lagos State Traffic Management Solutions (TMS) portal.

The platform allows users to search for traffic violations using their vehicle number and chassis number, or the Violation Number displayed on a ticket.

Motorists can also use the official PAYVIS platform to check vehicle-related bills and other relevant information by entering their vehicle plate number or bill number.

The Ministry of Transportation has warned that fraudulent platforms may attempt to lure motorists by offering discounts on traffic penalties.

It stressed that Lagos State does not offer discounts on traffic penalties, noting that official statutory fines are fixed.

Motorists are therefore advised to independently access the official platforms rather than clicking on links contained in unsolicited messages.

The approved platforms for verification are payvis.ng and tms.lagosstate.gov.ng.The ministry urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious messages or payment requests to the appropriate authorities.

How to verify Lagos traffic violations and vehicle-related bills

1. Check traffic violations

Use the Traffic Management Solutions (TMS) portal at tms.lagosstate.gov.ng.  You can search using either:  Your vehicle number and chassis number, or

The Violation Number (VN) shown on the traffic ticket.

The TMS portal allows motorists to check their violation status and, where applicable, view information relating to processed violations.

2. Check vehicle-related bills and documents

For Lagos vehicle inspection and related bills, use PAYVIS / PlateDetect at payvis.ng. The platform allows users to search with a vehicle plate number or bill number, confirm bills, and make payments through the available payment channels.

3. Avoid fake links

If you receive an SMS or WhatsApp message about a traffic offence, do not automatically click the link provided. Instead, open the official TMS or PAYVIS website yourself and verify the ticket or bill using your vehicle details.For TMS technical support, the official portal lists:  Email: tmssupport@lagosstate.gov.ng

Phone: 07000 TRAFFIC (07000 8723342)

Official portals:  TMS: tms.lagosstate.gov.ng

PAYVIS: payvis.ng

Source: punchng.com

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President Bola Tinubu on Thursday met with French President Emmanuel Macron for a private dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris.

The dinner was disclosed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on X on Friday.

Onanuga said the meeting reflected the enduring relationship between Nigeria and France and their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

See the photos below: