The Northern Senators Forum on Saturday called for an immediate, transparent and independent investigation into the deaths of 37 young Nigerians in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
It described the circumstances surrounding the occurrence as ‘deeply disturbing and unacceptable.’
In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by its Chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, the forum said it joined the nation in mourning the victims and demanded answers on every link in the chain of events that led to the tragedy.
The senators stressed that the sanctity of human life must be protected even for those held on suspicion of wrongdoing.
‘No Nigerian, regardless of the allegation against him, should lose his life in the custody of an agency established to protect lives and property.
‘The sanctity of human life and the dignity of every person in custody must be upheld at all times,’ the statement said.
Reports have alleged that the detainees were confined in a small room, cried for help and later choked to death, a scenario the forum said was ‘unacceptable.’
The forum outlined specific issues it wants a probe to address, insisting that Nigerians deserve full clarity.
‘Nigerians must know who ordered the arrests, where the detainees were taken, who authorised their detention in the facility, whether the room was fit for human habitation, when the distress calls were made, who heard them, what action was taken, and the precise circumstances in which each victim died,’ the statement read.
It called for the investigation to involve the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), credible civil society organisations and independent forensic experts to ensure public confidence in the outcome.
The Northern Senators Forum also demanded independent autopsies for all 37 victims, with family representatives and independent pathologists allowed to participate.
It insisted that accountability must follow wherever evidence leads.
‘If criminal negligence, unlawful detention, reckless conduct or any deliberate act contributed to these deaths, those responsible must be prosecuted, irrespective of their rank or position,’ the forum said.
Beyond the Minna incident, the senators urged a broader reform of how detainees are held across the country.
‘This tragedy must also trigger a nationwide review of detention facilities operated by all security agencies to ensure that no Nigerian is ever again placed in a situation where a cry for help becomes a cry that nobody answers,’ the statement added.
While pressing for accountability, the forum commended the Federal Government for ordering a full and independent enquiry into the matter, as well as the Niger State Government for its ‘proactive steps’ including support for the families and cooperation with investigators.
The senators extended condolences to the families of the deceased and to the people of Niger State, praying that ‘Almighty Allah (SWT) forgive the shortcomings of the departed, grant them Al-Jannatul Firdaus, and give their families the fortitude to bear this immeasurable loss.’
The deaths, which came after NSCDC operations against suspected illegal mining in the Wushishi-Lukoto axis of Minna, have sparked protests and multiple calls for probes from rights groups and political stakeholders.