By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The party also called for independent autopsies, the publication of the identities and detention records of the deceased, compensation for their families and prosecution of any officials found responsible for the deaths.
The deaths occurred after NSCDC operatives arrested suspected illegal miners during enforcement operations around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on September 15 and 16.
The NSCDC had said the detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17 following a suspected disease outbreak, adding that the bodies were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to establish the actual cause of death. The cause of the deaths has not been conclusively established.
Reacting to the incident, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the deaths raised serious questions about the treatment of citizens in government custody and demanded that the circumstances surrounding the fatalities be thoroughly investigated.
“Thirty-seven Nigerians entered government custody alive. Their families are now being asked to receive their bodies,” the party said, arguing that the circumstances demanded accountability.
The ADC said the fact that the victims were arrested over allegations of illegal mining did not extinguish their constitutional rights to life, dignity and due process.
“We must be clear: poverty is not a capital offence. Unemployment is not a death sentence,” the party stated.
It added that no allegation against a citizen should result in the loss of life while in government custody.
The party also linked the incident to Nigeria’s broader economic difficulties, alleging that worsening unemployment and the cost of living had pushed some Nigerians into dangerous means of survival.
According to the ADC, the government should address the economic conditions that contribute to illegal and informal activities rather than focusing only on those arrested at mining sites.
The opposition party further alleged that enforcement actions against poor miners should be accompanied by investigations into the financiers and criminal networks allegedly operating behind illegal mining activities.
“The poor are arrested for digging to survive, while the powerful men who finance illegal mining, sponsor insecurity and cart away Nigeria’s mineral wealth remain beyond the reach of the law,” the party alleged.
The ADC said the investigation should establish the immediate cause of death as well as determine whether any action or failure by officials contributed to the fatalities.
The Federal Government has already suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The NSCDC has also constituted an investigative team to examine the arrests, detention conditions and medical care provided to the suspects.
The Niger State Government has also ordered forensic examinations and autopsies to establish the cause of the deaths, while Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago declared three days of mourning for the victims.
The incident has generated demands from civil society groups and political actors for an independent investigation. Amnesty International Nigeria, for instance, called for a prompt, thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into how the detainees died after being taken into custody.
The ADC, while commiserating with the families of the deceased, urged the Federal Government to ensure that the investigation is conducted transparently and that anyone found culpable faces the appropriate legal consequences.
The party said the government must demonstrate that security institutions exist to protect citizens while ensuring that allegations of criminal conduct are handled through due process.
“Nigerians need jobs, security and justice, not an economy that impoverishes them and institutions that treat their lives as disposable,” the ADC said.
