Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna, Niger State.
Adeyanju also called for the prosecution of anyone found responsible, saying the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including reports that minors may have been among the victims, require a thorough investigation.
In a statement on Friday, he described the incident as deeply troubling and questioned claims that the victims died following a disease outbreak.
Adeyanju said the explanation should be independently verified, with authorities establishing when the detainees became ill, the medical attention they received and the circumstances leading to their deaths.
He stressed that people in state custody are entitled to humane treatment and said anyone found to have caused or contributed to the deaths through unlawful acts, torture, deliberate mistreatment or criminal negligence should face the appropriate legal consequences.
He described the incident as a tragic development that demands transparency and accountability.
