Niger Miners’ Deaths: Mortician Disputes Government’s Figure, Says Mortuary Received 33 Corpses, Not 37
The officer in charge of Minna General Hospital Mortuary, Dr Chinweokwu Alaribe, has told the judicial commission investigating the deaths of miners in Niger State that the facility received 33 corpses, contradicting the government’s reported figure of 37.
Alaribe disclosed this while testifying before the nine-member commission, chaired by Justice Mohammed Mohammed, during its resumed sitting in Minna.
He said he could only account for the 33 bodies delivered to the mortuary and could not confirm the whereabouts or number of any others that were not brought to the facility.
“I’m only aware that 33 corpses were brought in, not aware of any 37 as reported,” he told the panel.
The mortician explained that the bodies arrived at the hospital in two batches in an ambulance, accompanied by two nurses from the medical unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
He identified the nurses as Mariam and Hauwa, both attached to the NSCDC medical unit in Minna.
