MINNA — Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has expressed deep concern and sorrow over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
Obi, in a statement issued on Friday, described the deaths as a deeply troubling tragedy that requires urgent, transparent and credible answers from the relevant authorities.
The victims were among suspected illegal miners arrested during NSCDC operations in Niger State on September 15 and 16. Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago subsequently confirmed that 37 detainees had died while in NSCDC custody and announced an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The state government also suspended the NSCDC commandant and his team to facilitate an impartial investigation.
The exact cause of the deaths remains under investigation. While the NSCDC initially referred to a suspected disease outbreak, authorities have said medical examinations and autopsies would be necessary to establish the scientific cause. Survivors, however, have alleged that detainees were held in severely overcrowded and poorly ventilated conditions and struggled to breathe before the deaths occurred.
Reacting to the incident, Obi stressed that the status of the detainees as suspects did not remove their fundamental right to humane treatment and protection while in government custody.
“Let’s begin to give dignity to human lives in our land,” Obi said.
He added that regardless of the offences the deceased were suspected of committing, they remained human beings whose safety and dignity should have been protected by the state.
“These were persons who had been arrested as suspects. Whatever offence they were suspected of committing, they were still human beings, and the responsibility of the State was to keep them alive, safe, and treated humanely while due process took its course.”
Obi said the death of such a large number of people inside a government detention facility raises serious questions that must be answered through an independent and credible investigation.
“While investigations are ongoing into the actual cause of these deaths, including reports concerning disease, overcrowding, and inadequate ventilation, Nigerians deserve a transparent, independent, and credible investigation that establishes exactly what happened,” he stated.
The former Anambra State governor also argued that national security should extend beyond the arrest and detention of citizens, stressing the need for security institutions to protect lives and operate within the framework of the law.
“Security is not merely about arresting people. Security is about protecting lives, upholding the dignity of every citizen, and ensuring that the institutions entrusted with our safety operate within the law.”
Obi further called on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Interior and the leadership of the NSCDC to ensure that anyone found responsible for negligence or wrongdoing faces appropriate consequences.
“A nation cannot claim to value human life when people can enter government custody alive and emerge dead without immediate, transparent, and credible accountability,” he warned.
He extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and urged the authorities to ensure that the investigation produces clear answers and that justice is served.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and urge the authorities to ensure that justice is done. Nigeria must become a country where the rule of law protects every citizen, not only those who are free but also those who are in custody.”
Meanwhile, investigations into the Minna deaths are continuing. The Nigeria Police Force has said it will work with the NSCDC and the Niger State Government to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu described deaths in custody as a serious matter requiring thorough investigation.
The incident has also triggered public protests and renewed scrutiny of conditions in custodial facilities. Survivor accounts alleging overcrowding and inadequate ventilation have intensified calls for authorities to establish precisely what happened inside the NSCDC facility before the deaths.