A recent comprehensive poll conducted across several Nigerian states has revealed widespread public discontent over the treatment of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following the deaths of 37 miners in a federal NSCDC cell in Minna. The poll results indicate that a large majority of those surveyed view the current handling of the Minna incident as an example of selective justice that risks demoralising an entire federal security agency.
The poll respondents contrasted the severe measures taken against Civil Defence personnel with the far milder responses to earlier civilian deaths caused by federal military operations in Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Zamfara. In Kaduna, 85 people died in December 2023 when an army drone struck a religious gathering in Tudun Biri, with Amnesty International putting the death toll closer to 120. Despite this, Governor Uba Sani was not asked to resign, and neither the Chief of Defence Staff nor the Chief of Army Staff faced suspension.
Similar incidents occurred in Nasarawa and Zamfara, where 37 civilians and 16 vigilantes died, respectively, in air force strikes. In both cases, the affected governors were not called upon to step down, and senior military officers were not suspended or publicly investigated. The poll participants described this as the accepted pattern when the armed forces are involved, with the Air Force formally apologising and admitting the actions were accidental.
The Minna case, however, has produced a markedly different reaction, with the federal government moving to suspend more than 24 NSCDC officers. There are open calls for the Niger State governor to be voted out of office, and police have been brought in to investigate, with civilians constituted into an inquiry panel. Respondents in the opinion poll described these steps as an insult and a disgrace.
Many poll participants asked why a different strategy is being applied only when the Civil Defence Corps is involved. A strong theme running through the poll responses is that the NSCDC is being treated as a baby organisation that can be sacrificed. Officers who carried out a task and mandate duly assigned by the Federal Government are now being victimised.
Participants warned that such selective justice will demoralise many officers going forward, with one respondent stating, "No one will be willing to put his neck on the line henceforth if the outcome is suspension, public humiliation and investigation by the police." Several respondents invoked the words of a former governor who spoke of sacrificing the scapegoat, arguing that the Civil Defence Corps is being made to play exactly that role.
The overall verdict from the opinion poll is that while no Nigerian is happy that the deaths in Minna occurred, the differential treatment of NSCDC officers is unacceptable. Respondents called for the release of Civil Defence officers held on account of this incident and for an end to the selective approach that singles out one federal agency while leaving others untouched.
Key points
- The poll highlights a perceived double standard in the treatment of NSCDC officers compared to military personnel.
- The incidents in Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Zamfara resulted in milder responses from the government compared to the Minna case.
- The selective justice is feared to demoralise NSCDC officers and impact their willingness to carry out their duties.
