Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, has expressed shock and deep concern over the reported deaths of 37 persons who died while in the custody of the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Gumel, a security expert with over three decades of service, extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased, the Emir of Minna, the Government and people of Niger State, and Nigerians generally. He emphasized that the incident is a grave security and human-rights matter that demands a prompt, transparent, and fact-driven investigation.
The Federal Government has ordered an independent investigation into the incident and directed the preservation of evidence. Gumel noted that the investigation must establish how the arrests were conducted, the conditions of detention, the medical condition of each detainee, the precise cause and time of each death, and whether any officer, commander, or other person acted unlawfully or negligently. He stressed that every person in custody is under the protection of the state and that law enforcement must always remain within the law.
Gumel described the Federal Government's response to the incident as an important first step, but emphasized that the real test is implementation. He noted that investigators must have unrestricted access to the detention facility, custody registers, arrest records, duty rosters, communication logs, medical records, surviving detainees, and all officers involved. The findings should be made public within the limits of the law, and any evidence of criminal conduct must be referred promptly for prosecution.
Gumel expressed concerns about the independence of the investigation process, given that security officials are involved. He emphasized that the investigators must be free from interference, protect witnesses, and preserve the chain of custody for every piece of evidence. Representatives of the affected community and Civil Society Organizations should be able to follow the process, and no institution should investigate itself and expect the public to accept an untested conclusion.
The investigators must establish several key facts, including who authorized the operation, where, when, and why each person was arrested, and how many people entered custody alive. They must also determine the size and condition of the detention space, who supervised the detainees, whether food, water, ventilation, and medical care were provided, and when distress was first noticed. Additionally, they must establish the medically established cause of every death and determine whether records were altered or evidence was concealed.
Gumel cautioned against presenting unverified explanations as fact, citing claims of illness, suffocation, assault, chemical exposure, or other causes. He emphasized that the correct approach is to preserve the bodies and relevant samples, examine the scene, interview witnesses separately, and allow the evidence to establish what happened. The NSCDC has the power to arrest suspected illegal miners, but Gumel noted that the legal route must be stated carefully, in accordance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act 2003.
Gumel concluded that accountability and effective security must go together, and that supporting security agencies does not mean excusing misconduct, while defending human rights does not mean supporting crime. He emphasized that Nigeria must continue to fight illegal mining and other threats to national security, but that security agencies must always act within the Constitution and the law.
Key points
- The investigation into the deaths of 37 detainees in NSCDC custody must be prompt, transparent, and fact-driven.
- The investigators must establish key facts, including the cause of death, conditions of detention, and whether any officer acted unlawfully or negligently.
- The NSCDC has the power to arrest suspected illegal miners, but must act in accordance with the law.
