The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria (NCSCN) has called for the dismissal and prosecution of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers found culpable in the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners at a detention facility in Minna, Niger State.
The council made the call on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, during a press conference in Abuja in response to the report of the Federal Government’s independent committee set up to investigate the incident.
The council condemned the condition of the detention facility, describing it as deplorable, overcrowded, poorly ventilated and unfit for human habitation.
It said the conditions allegedly exposed detainees to suffocation, stressing that the incident raised serious concerns about custodial management, human rights compliance and the standard of detention facilities operated by security agencies across the country.
The NCSCN commended the 10-member independent committee chaired by former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Jonathan Kure, for what it described as a diligent and thorough investigation.
The committee was constituted on September 19, 2026, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a full and transparent investigation into the deaths.
In a statement delivered by its Executive Director, Amb. Blessing A. Akinlosotu, the council welcomed the suspension of 21 NSCDC officers in connection with the incident but demanded stronger disciplinary measures against those found responsible.
It urged the authorities to ensure that officers established to have committed misconduct or negligence were dismissed and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Council blames inadequate funding
Beyond the alleged misconduct of personnel, the NCSCN attributed the tragedy to what it described as systemic underfunding of security agencies and the poor state of detention infrastructure.
The council argued that the NSCDC and other security agencies were burdened with extensive responsibilities, including protecting lives and property, combating illegal mining, safeguarding critical national assets, supporting the Safe Schools Initiative, managing agro-ranger operations and responding to disasters.
It questioned the capacity of security agencies to discharge these responsibilities effectively when some of their detention facilities allegedly lacked basic infrastructure and adequate ventilation.
“You cannot demand 21st-century security delivery with 19th-century funding,” the council said.
The NCSCN called on the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocations for security agencies and provide funds for the rehabilitation and modernisation of detention facilities nationwide.
It also urged the government to discourage arbitrary and unjustified detention of citizens, insisting that security operations must respect constitutional provisions on human dignity and fair hearing.
NCSCN defends NSCDC commandant-general
The council maintained that, according to its interpretation of the committee’s report, the NSCDC Commandant-General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, was not indicted over the incident.
It said the report established that the operations in M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto were conducted without an operational order or the knowledge and approval of the Corps’ national headquarters.
The council warned against politicising the incident or using what it described as an operational failure at the state level to discredit the national leadership of the NSCDC or the Federal Government.
It also expressed confidence in Audi’s leadership, crediting him with reforms aimed at improving professionalism, discipline, human rights compliance and operational efficiency within the Corps.
According to the council, responsibility for the incident should be established based on the findings of the investigation, with sanctions directed at officers found culpable rather than imposed indiscriminately on senior officials who were not implicated.
The NCSCN maintained that accountability should follow the evidence and the established chain of responsibility.
Calls for special intervention fund
The council urged President Tinubu to carefully consider the committee’s findings and ensure their implementation.
It called for a special intervention fund and increased budgetary allocations to the NSCDC and other security agencies to address infrastructure and operational deficiencies.
According to the council, the proposed funding should support the construction and renovation of standard, humane and well-ventilated detention facilities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
It also recommended the procurement of operational vehicles, modern surveillance systems and communication equipment, as well as continuous training and retraining of personnel in custodial management and human rights standards.
The council said adequately funded, equipped and trained security agencies would be better positioned to protect citizens and maintain public confidence.
Urges speedy prosecution of suspects
The NCSCN further called on security and law enforcement agencies to ensure that suspects were promptly arraigned before competent courts of law.
It said prolonged detention without lawful justification undermined constitutional rights and exposed detainees to possible abuse.
The council argued that timely prosecution, judicial oversight and respect for due process were essential to preventing unlawful detention and protecting the dignity of Nigerians.
It also proposed the declaration of a national emergency on detention facilities and correctional centres to draw urgent attention to their conditions and accelerate reforms.
The council concluded by urging the Federal Government to treat the committee’s findings as an opportunity to strengthen accountability, improve custodial infrastructure and ensure that security operations across the country comply with the law and respect fundamental human rights.
