Civil Society Calls for Due Process in NSCDC Death Probe

The Centre for Peace, Transparency and Accountability, along with allied civil society organizations, has called for restraint and due process in the investigation of the deaths of suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State. In a statement issued by Comrade Patrick Onoumuodeke during a press conference in Abuja, the groups supported a thorough investigation but cautioned against premature conclusions that could discredit the Ministry of Interior and the NSCDC.

The NSCDC conducted enforcement operations on September 15 and 16, 2026, targeting illegal mining activities, leading to arrests and subsequent deaths of detainees on September 17. The Niger State Command initially suggested a disease outbreak as a cause, while the NSCDC National Headquarters stated that the cause of death was still under investigation.

The organizations stressed the importance of establishing verified facts regarding the deaths, including the conditions of detention and medical care provided.