Niger Miners’ Deaths: Mortician Tells Panel 33 Corpses Were Received at Minna Hospital

The Officer in Charge of the Minna General Hospital Mortuary, Dr Chinweokwu Alaribe, has told the judicial commission investigating the deaths of miners in Niger State that the mortuary received 33 corpses, contrary to the 37 reported by the state government.

Dr Alaribe disclosed this while testifying before the nine-member judicial commission, chaired by Justice Mohammed Mohammed, during its resumed sitting in Minna.

He told the panel that he could only account for the 33 corpses brought to the mortuary, adding that he had no knowledge of any additional bodies that were not taken to the facility.

Dr Alaribe explained that the corpses were transported to the hospital in two batches using an ambulance.

He further disclosed that two nurses attached to the medical unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna accompanied the bodies to the hospital.

The mortician identified the nurses as Mariam and Hauwa.

The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of miners in Niger State, including the reported number of casualties.