The families of 37 artisanal miners who died in custody in Nigeria are calling for swift justice and the return of property seized during their arrest. They say that no financial compensation can make up for their loss. A presidential panel has found that the detainees, suspected of being illegal miners, died from overcrowding, extreme heat, dehydration, and neglect while being held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger state last month.
The panel's findings have been welcomed by Nigeria's government, with Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo stating that the report has been sent to the attorney-general for immediate judicial action. However, the minister did not respond to requests for comment on when victims' families and survivors would receive compensation. The deaths, including those of teenagers, have triggered protests in Nigeria, raising concerns about conditions in detention facilities and the treatment of suspects awaiting trial.
Zainab Salihu, whose son was among the dead, expressed her grief, saying that the deaths in detention had led to the deterioration of her husband's health, who later died. Salihu emphasized that no amount of money can bring their children back, saying "What we wanted was for our children to be alive and return to us." Her husband's death circumstances could not be verified by Reuters.
Dantala Tanko, whose 25-year-old son Suleiman died in detention, is struggling to come to terms with his loss. Tanko prayed at his son's grave, saying that his son's death is deeply painful and that he will never return. Other survivors have appreciated the investigation's findings but are demanding accountability, saying that officers responsible for the deaths should not remain in positions of authority.
Some survivors, including 25-year-old Dauda Shehu, have called for disciplinary action against the officers involved, saying that they demonstrated disregard for human life. Abdulsalam Yakubu, 23, expressed frustration with the government's slow action, saying that he wants the government to return the motocycles, phones, mining equipment, and gold that were seized during the victims' arrest.
Yakubu and other survivors are asking for justice, promised support, and the return of their property so that they can begin to rebuild their lives. The government's response to these demands remains unclear. The incident has raised concerns about human rights and the treatment of suspects in detention facilities in Nigeria.
The incident serves as a reminder of the need for improved conditions in detention facilities and accountability for those responsible for human rights abuses. The government's actions will be closely watched by families of the victims, survivors, and human rights advocates.
Key points
- - Families of the 37 artisanal miners demand swift justice and return of seized property. - A presidential panel found that the detainees died from overcrowding, extreme heat, dehydration, and neglect. - Survivors are calling for accountability and disciplinary action against officers involved in the deaths.
