By Ifeanyi Onuoha
Reactions have continued to trail the deaths of 37 detainees in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna, Niger State.
Human rights organisation, Global Rights including private, government and some political personalities have condemned the dastardly act, alleging that the reported use of live ammunition by security forces during protests that followed the deaths is uncalled for.
This also, is in sequel to the reported case of chemical spray inside the jam-packed cell where the 37 victims allegedly met their untimely death, prompting more actions to unravel the reasons behind the act.
Recall that the NSCDC had earlier reported that on September 15 and 16, 2026, it carried out a “burst operation” in M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto Village, areas known for small-scale gold mining activities, as part of efforts to curb illegal mining.
Unverified reports alleged that about 65 suspects arrested during the operation were crammed into the paramilitary agency’s facility, where 37 of them were found dead in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, a day after.
The NSCDC had described the deaths as resulting from a “suspected outbreak of disease.” but a conflicting report by one of the detainees interrogated by government officials and monitored by a TV station quoted that a chemical was sprayed inside the cell by unknown persons, after which some detainees started falling, resulting to deaths.
When news of the deaths filtered in, youths within took to the streets to protest, barricading major roads. Security agents were also alleged to have used tear gas to disperse the protesters.
The tense atmosphere subsequently prompted the state government to impose a 24-hour curfew in parts of the state. The curfew took effect immediately after Friday’s Jumat prayer.
This has since elicited reactions from concerned bodies condemning the actions took by the NSCDC and the consequences that resulted.
However, one of the concerned bodies, Global Rights, in a statement condemned the reported use of live ammunition by security forces during the protests. The organisation stressed that while security agencies have a responsibility to maintain public order, such responsibility must be exercised lawfully, proportionately and with full respect for the right to life and peaceful assembly.
The body was saddened that the security services whose constitutional responsibility is to protect Nigerians, safeguard lives and property, and uphold the rule of law, not to escalate situations through excessive or unlawful force was fingered in the incident.
Meanwhile, other organizations, political parties including the Presidency has joined issues to stem the rising tension.
In a statement by the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Democratic Party ((ADP) among others, they have demanded an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 Nigerians in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State, calling for independent autopsies, disclosure of the victims’ identities and detention records, compensation for their families and prosecution of officials found responsible.
National Publicity Secretary of ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the deaths had raised grave questions about the treatment of poor Nigerians in government custody.
He stated that neither poverty nor unemployment could justify the loss of life in custody, insisting that allegations against the victims could not erase their fundamental rights.
The party connected the incident to the wider cost-of-living and unemployment crisis, accusing the Federal Government of criminalising desperate attempts by Nigerians to survive as legitimate economic opportunities shrink.
It also questioned the focus of enforcement on poor miners while, according to the party, the powerful interests financing illegal mining and benefiting from the country’s mineral wealth remain beyond the reach of the law.
Accordingly, the Action Democratic Party ADP in a statement signed by it’s National Chairman Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, it stated that the party demands a transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths including proper forensic examination to establish the actual cause of death.
He stressed that Government exists fundamentally to protect lives and property, adding that when citizens can be kidnapped or killed by criminals in their communities and others die while in the custody of an agency of the state, public confidence in government and its institutions is gravely undermined.
But a statement from the Presidency mentioned that President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full, transparent investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners, noting that “every Nigerian’s life matters and that no citizen should die in government custody because of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty,” according to the President.
While expressing deep concern over the reported deaths, and describing the development as a grave matter that requires urgent investigation and accountability, he acknowledged that despite government’s effort to combat illegal mining, that enforcement operations must be conducted strictly within the law and with full respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of every person in custody.
President Tinubu directed the relevant authorities to ensure that the investigation is comprehensive, transparent and unhindered, covering the circumstances of the arrests.
He also appealed for calm among the families and communities affected by the tragedy, assuring them that the Federal Government would pursue the truth and take appropriate action based on credible evidence.
