Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has called for greater respect for human life following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
Obi, in a post on his verified X account on Friday, described the deaths as deeply troubling and said the circumstances surrounding the incident require urgent and credible answers.
He argued that regardless of the allegations against the detainees, their status as suspects did not remove their right to humane treatment while in government custody.
Obi said the state had a responsibility to keep those arrested safe and alive while allowing due process to take its course.
The former Anambra State governor also expressed concern over the number of deaths recorded within a detention facility over a short period. He called for a transparent and independent investigation into reports surrounding the incident, including claims of overcrowding, inadequate ventilation and a possible disease outbreak.
The exact cause of the deaths has not yet been conclusively established. The NSCDC has said medical and laboratory examinations are required before any particular cause can be confirmed.
Authorities have since launched investigations into the incident. The Niger State Government has constituted a committee of inquiry, while the Federal Government has ordered a full investigation. The NSCDC commandant in Niger State has also been directed to step aside pending the probe.
Obi said the incident should prompt a broader conversation about the treatment of people in government custody, stressing that security operations should also protect human lives and uphold citizens’ rights.
He said, “Let’s begin to give dignity to human lives in our land,” while extending his condolences to the families of the deceased.
The deaths have generated protests and widespread calls for accountability in Minna. The ongoing investigations are expected to establish what happened inside the detention facility, the conditions under which the suspects were held and the actual cause of their deaths.