Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for an independent investigation into the reported death of 37 Nigerians in government custody. In a statement, Atiku said the deaths could not be addressed merely through the suspension of junior officials, but required a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The 37 Nigerians were arrested alive during an operation against suspected illegal mining activities and subsequently died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Atiku alleged that survivors had claimed that some of the detainees were held in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell, where they reportedly struggled to breathe. He questioned the role of Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, noting that the NSCDC operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior. Atiku also called on Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake to explain the enforcement operations connected to the mining sector.
The former vice president specifically asked President Bola Tinubu, as head of the Federal Government, to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the deaths are fully investigated. He drew a comparison with the 2014 Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment tragedy, in which several applicants died during a recruitment exercise. Atiku said the response to deaths occurring under government supervision should not depend on the status of the victims.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has also demanded an immediate, open, and transparent investigation into the deaths of the 37 Nigerians. The party condemned the reported use of ammunition and tear gas by security agencies against citizens who took to the streets to protest the deaths. The APM described the deaths as disturbing and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the APM, claims by authorities that the deceased were suspected illegal miners and that some of them died following a suspected disease outbreak could not, on their own, explain the scale of the fatalities. The party said reports that 66 detainees were held in the same cell, with 37 subsequently dying, required urgent investigation.
The APM expressed concern over the reported confrontation between security agencies and protesters demanding answers over the deaths. The party urged security agencies to exercise restraint and avoid actions capable of escalating tensions or resulting in additional deaths. The APM maintained that the death of citizens in detention could not be justified under any circumstances.
Atiku and the APM warned against the use of junior officers as “scapegoats” while senior officials escape scrutiny. They maintained that the government owed the families of the deceased and the wider public a credible account of what happened. The two groups demanded the truth, accountability, and justice for all 37 victims.
Key points
- Atiku Abubakar and APM demand independent investigation into deaths of 37 Nigerians in government custody
- The deaths occurred while the detainees were in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
- The incident has raised concerns about the treatment of suspects and detainees in government facilities
