Northern senators demand probe into deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners

The Northern Senators Forum (NSF) has urged the Federal Government to ensure a full, independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the forum’s chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina Central), said the circumstances surrounding the deaths were disturbing and demanded accountability.

He said Nigerians deserved clear answers about how the incident happened.

“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,” he said.

The senators called for the investigation to include 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 forum also demanded independent autopsies for all 37 victims, with representatives of the families and independent pathologists allowed to participate.

The forum said anyone found culpable of criminal negligence, unlawful detention, reckless conduct or any deliberate action that contributed to the deaths should be prosecuted, regardless of their rank or position.

The senators also called for a nationwide review of detention facilities operated by security agencies to prevent similar tragedies in the future.