The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called for a transparent and credible investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
Obi, in a statement on Friday, said the incident demanded urgent answers, stressing that those arrested as suspects remained entitled to humane treatment and protection while in government custody.
“Let’s begin to give dignity to human lives in our land,” Obi said.
He described the deaths as a “deeply troubling tragedy,” arguing that regardless of the offences the detainees were suspected of committing, they remained human beings whose lives should have been protected by the state.
“Whatever offence they were suspected of committing, they were still human beings, and the responsibility of the State was to keep them alive, safe, and treated humanely while due process took its course,” he said.
The 37 detainees were among scores of people arrested by the NSCDC during operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities around M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16.
The NSCDC initially said some of the detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17 following a suspected disease outbreak. However, the corps later said the actual cause of death had not been established and would be determined through medical and laboratory examinations.
Reports have also raised concerns about the conditions in which the detainees were held, including allegations of overcrowding and poor ventilation. These claims remain subject to investigation.
Obi said the number of deaths within a detention facility in such a short period was particularly disturbing and called for an independent investigation to establish what happened.
“While investigations are ongoing into the actual cause of these deaths, including reports concerning disease, overcrowding, and inadequate ventilation, Nigerians deserve a transparent, independent, and credible investigation that establishes exactly what happened,” he said.
He further argued that the incident highlighted the broader responsibility of security institutions beyond the arrest and detention of suspects.
“This tragedy also reminds us that security is not merely about arresting people. Security is about protecting lives, upholding the dignity of every citizen, and ensuring that the institutions entrusted with our safety operate within the law,” Obi said.
The Niger State Government has constituted a committee of inquiry, while the police have also opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The NSCDC has constituted its own investigative panel, and the Niger State Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, and members of his team have been suspended pending the investigation.
Obi said the incident raised fundamental questions about accountability in Nigeria’s detention system.
“A nation cannot claim to value human life when people can enter government custody alive and emerge dead without immediate, transparent, and credible accountability,” he said.
He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and urged the authorities to ensure that justice was done.
“Nigeria must become a country where the rule of law protects every citizen, not only those who are free but also those who are in custody,” Obi said.
He prayed for strength for the families of the deceased as they mourn their loss.
