ADC demands probe into deaths of 37 Nigerians in NSCDC custody
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is demanding an independent and transparent investigation into the reported deaths of 37 Nigerians while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
In a statement released on Friday, National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi called for independent autopsies, the publication of the identities and detention records of the deceased, compensation for their families, and the prosecution of officials deemed responsible.
The ADC highlighted that the victims, arrested during operations targeting illegal mining activities, were entitled to their constitutional rights, including the right to life, dignity, and due process.
“Thirty-seven Nigerians entered government custody alive. Their families are now being asked to receive their bodies. This is an indictment on this government about the value of the average Nigerian life,” the statement read.
The party emphasized, “Poverty is not a capital offence. Unemployment is not a death sentence. No accusation, whatever the case, gives any government institution the right to return citizens to their families in body bags.”
Additionally, the ADC linked the deaths to Nigeria’s escalating cost-of-living crisis and high unemployment rates, accusing the federal government of criminalizing the efforts of impoverished individuals seeking to make a living. They also pointed out that while miners facing financial hardship are being arrested, powerful figures allegedly financing illegal operations remain unaddressed.
The ADC called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to determine whether security institutions are serving the interests of the citizens and reiterated the need for job creation, security, and justice for Nigerians.
The party insisted that the circumstances surrounding the 37 deaths should not be treated as an isolated incident and reaffirmed its demand for a comprehensive investigation.
