After 37 deaths in Minna, NSCDC detains 24 agents

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has detained 24 of its agents at its headquarters in Abuja as part of the investigation into the deaths of 37 individuals arrested for alleged illegal mining in Minna. The group includes Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, the commander of the corps in Niger State, who has been suspended following the incident.

In a statement released on Sunday, September 20, the NSCDC announced that the agents involved in the incident are being interrogated at the national headquarters and will be made available to the independent presidential commission and other investigative bodies. Three additional agents were identified after the initial list, increasing the total number of personnel involved from 21 to 24.

This action goes beyond the administrative suspensions announced the day before. The government had previously suspended 21 agents and established a ten-member independent commission tasked with determining the circumstances of the deaths and identifying any potential responsibilities.

The 37 victims were part of a group arrested on September 15 and 16 during operations against suspected illegal mining sites. The exact cause of the deaths has not yet been established. Survivors and families have reported extremely harsh detention conditions, while the NSCDC initially suggested a possible outbreak of disease.

President Bola Tinubu ordered a thorough and transparent investigation on September 18. He emphasized that the suspension of agents could not replace the establishment of any potential criminal liability and that anyone found guilty of abuse, negligence, or mistreatment must be held accountable in court.

The NSCDC’s commandant general, Ahmed Audi, also ordered that the corps’ flag be flown at half-mast for three days starting September 20. The independent commission has two weeks to submit its report to the Minister of Interior.