The Northern Senators Forum has demanded a full forensic investigation into the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in Minna, Niger State, raising questions over what happened after the detainees allegedly cried for help.
The senators said the reported deaths had raised disturbing questions that must be answered by the authorities, insisting that the investigation must reconstruct the chain of events from the suspects’ arrest to their final moments in custody.
In a statement signed on Saturday by the Chairman of the forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, the senators demanded an independent probe capable of determining who authorised the detention of the suspects, where they were held and whether the facility was fit for human habitation.
The forum also wants investigators to establish whether distress calls were made by the detainees, when the calls were allegedly made, which officers heard them and what was done in response.
The senators said the circumstances surrounding each death must be independently established rather than relying solely on internal accounts from the security agency involved.
They demanded the involvement of the National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Bar Association, credible civil society organisations and independent forensic experts in the investigation.
The forum also called for independent autopsies on all 37 victims, with the families allowed to nominate representatives and independent pathologists participating in the process.
It warned that the investigation must lead to prosecution where evidence establishes criminal negligence, unlawful detention, reckless conduct or deliberate 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 senators said.
The forum further demanded a nationwide review of detention facilities operated by security agencies, arguing that the Minna tragedy should trigger scrutiny of the conditions under which suspects are detained across the country.
The senators commended the Federal Government for ordering an investigation into the incident and the Niger State Government for its reported support for the affected families and cooperation with investigators.
The deaths reportedly occurred after the suspects were arrested over alleged illegal mining activities in Niger State.
The Federal Government has since ordered a probe, while 20 NSCDC officers have reportedly been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
But the Northern Senators Forum said the suspension alone would not answer the questions surrounding the deaths.
For the senators, the crucial questions remain: Who authorised the detention? What happened inside the facility? Were cries for help heard? Who responded—or failed to respond—and could the deaths have been prevented?