The federal government's Independent Investigative Committee probing the deaths of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, has identified key issues. The committee's Chairman, Jonathan Kure, disclosed that institutional breakdown, overzealousness, and inadequate training emerged from the investigation. The panel has not concluded the circumstances surrounding the deaths but has requested a two-week extension to complete its investigation and submit a thorough and credible report.
The committee had inspected the NSCDC custody facility, conducted autopsies, interviewed survivors and bereaved families, and taken statements from NSCDC personnel and other witnesses. They also visited the mining site and the Niger State Command headquarters of the NSCDC, examining locations connected with the incident. The panel interacted with officers and personnel directly or indirectly involved but is still engaging some of them. Due to the investigation's peculiar nature, it involves a large volume of testimonies and evidence requiring meticulous review and collation.
The 37 people died after being arrested during enforcement operations around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on 15 and 16 September. The deaths were initially reported as 33 before the Niger State Government confirmed that 37 people had died. The cause of the deaths has not been officially established. The incident prompted the federal government to establish an independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including arrests and detention of the victims and possible responsibility, negligence, or misconduct.
The committee is still awaiting forensic and pathology reports considered critical to determining the cause of the deaths. The chairman said the panel would give persons implicated in the incident, including suspended NSCDC officers, an opportunity to respond before reaching its conclusions. The committee is determined to ensure its findings are evidence-based and can withstand scrutiny. They promised Nigerians a thorough job and will use the additional two weeks to review documentary and forensic evidence, receive outstanding medical reports, and hear from people whose conduct or actions may be relevant.
The panel visited the affected communities, met the families of the deceased, and interacted with survivors as part of efforts to reconstruct the events. The chairman said the panel was conscious of the grief experienced by the families and would avoid speculation in reaching its conclusions. The final report is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, determine responsibility where applicable, and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has called for measures to prevent avoidable deaths in detention facilities across Nigeria. The chair of NBA-SPIDEL, Uju Agomoh, made the call while briefing journalists ahead of the section's annual conference. She referred to the recent deaths in NSCDC custody in Minna and stressed the need for detention facilities to operate in accordance with Nigerian law and internationally recognised human rights standards.
The NBA-SPIDEL chair also called for stronger legal aid, alternative and non-custodial measures, improved detention oversight, and a justice system that responds to vulnerable and marginalised Nigerians. She said meaningful reform required collaboration among stakeholders, including lawyers, judges, government institutions, and civil society organisations. The section's annual conference will examine structural and institutional barriers to access to justice and identify solutions, responsibilities, and pathways for action.
Key points
- The investigation identified institutional breakdown, overzealousness, and inadequate training as key issues.
- The committee has requested a two-week extension to complete its investigation and submit a thorough and credible report.
- The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law called for measures to prevent avoidable deaths in detention facilities across Nigeria.
