Justice for Minna 33 miners

The national outrage and condemnation which trailed the recent death of 33 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Niger Command, who were initially labelled artisanal and illegal miners that prompted the setting up of an independent investigative committee by the Federal Government has subsided with the submission of its report to the Minister of the Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, last week, detailing the circumstances surrounding the human tragedy.

Expectedly, and in line with earlier public notion, according to the committee headed by a retired Deputy Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Jonathan Kure, the deaths of the 33 male victims, 14 of whom were minors, between September 16 and 17, 2026, were clearly avoidable while available evidence, does not support claims that a disease outbreak terminated their lives, with medical findings pointing to ‘’acute respiratory failure consistent with environmental asphyxia’’ arising from the cell’s poor ventilation, extreme heat, overcrowding and lack of adequate drinking water.

It is against this backdrop that we demand justice for the late miners, as contained in the investigative committee’s recommendation that those responsible should be dismissed and made to face prosecution for offences ranging from murder, criminal negligence, torture and inhuman treatment where applicable,” in addition to severe administrative sanctions against officers whose failures contributed to the tragedy.

Furthermore, “the investigation identified serious failures by senior officers, including the state commandant over the operation, detention conditions, supervision and response to repeated distress calls,’’ and proposed a comprehensive restructuring of the NSCDC’s leadership and reforms in recruitment, deployment, training, supervision, intelligence gathering and accountability in order to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and prevent a recurrence.

We strongly condemn attempts by some of the Corps personnel to frustrate the committee’s fact-finding visit to Niger moments after inauguration, including the cleaning of the holding cell before the arrival of medical investigators sent to inspect bloodstains, vomit, and other crucial evidence.

Also, unconscionable is the fact that the deceased included children and minors aged between 11 and 12 years who were arrested during anti-illegal mining operations in Wushishi and Lukuto in the Chanchaga Local Government Area of Niger State.

Regrettably too, it is most inhuman by the authorities concerned to have quartered the victims in a cell having metal door, inadequate airflow, without running water, poor lighting and no functioning toilet with food and drinking water either unavailable or reportedly as grossly inadequate; where adults and minors were detained together and witnesses described as ‘’conditions of extreme heat, dehydration, congestion and suffocation’’.

Given such inhuman conditions, it was not surprising that the detainees died suddenly thereby throwing the nation into mourning.

Even more disheartening and condemnable was the revelation that, the detainees’ prolonged distress calls, cry for assistance, repeated banging on cell doors and walls, heard by officers assigned to nearby duty posts were apparently ignored by NSCDC officials. Therefore, in our view, such insensitivity on the part of state actors amounted to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and made fatalities foreseeable and preventable.

Besides, this apparent man’s inhumanity to fellow citizens should not be tolerated by any government that believes in the sanctity of human lives, as well as upholds the fundamental human rights of the people and the rule of law. The cruel act is a gross violation of their right to life under Section 33 of Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) while the committee’s call for investigations by anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), into allegations of extortion and mismanagement of exhibits by the officers connected with the tragedy is also welcome.

Though human life cannot be quantified in monetary terms, we find merit in the panel’s recommended substantial compensation packages for the affected families and survivors, totaling N1.4 billion or ‘’individual payouts (such as N30 million per deceased victim’s family and N10 million for each survivor)’’, as such financial intervention will go a long way to mitigate the suffering of the affected families some of whom might have lost their bread winners.

Equally significant, is the assurance by Tunji-Ojo that the era of setting up committees in order to reduce tension was over, and that nothing will be swept under the carpet after the report is forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, for further necessary action. We don’t expect anything less from the Federal Government if only for justice to be served on the souls of the 33 departed miners, sent to untimely graves and their families. The ordered suspension of all officers and men involved in the clearing of the crime scene before the arrival of the investigative panel is a step in the right direction. Apart from paving the way for speedy investigation, it will facilitate other disciplinary actions against those culpable and serve as a deterrent.

However, the Minna tragedy, has again exposed the inhuman conditions prevailing in the nation’s correctional and detention facilities reportedly harbouring poor sanitation and severe overcrowding with over 60% to 70% of detainees estimated to be awaiting trial engendered by prolonged police investigations and delayed judicial processes, thereby slowing down the wheel of justice, as well as systemic neglect and rightly adjudged as below global human rights benchmarks. We strongly demand an urgent upgrading of existing detention and correctional facilities for the wellbeing of inmates in addition to necessary comprehensive reforms by the Federal Government not only to make them more habitable for detainees but prevent a recurrence of the Minna tragedy.

For a better society

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