Northern Senators Forum Demands Probe into NSCDC Deaths

The Northern Senators Forum has expressed outrage over the reported deaths of 37 young Nigerians while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Sen. Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua (Katsina Central), the Forum described the circumstances of the deaths as deeply disturbing, noting that the victims were confined in a small room and cried for help before choking to death.

The Forum emphasized that no Nigerian should lose their life in the custody of an agency meant to protect lives and property. They demanded an immediate, transparent, and independent investigation into the events leading to the deaths, including the authority behind the arrests and the conditions of the detention facility.

The Forum called for the involvement of the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, credible civil society organizations, and independent forensic experts in the investigation. They also urged for independent autopsies for all victims and accountability for any criminal negligence or unlawful actions that contributed to the deaths.