APM Demands Probe Into Deaths of 37 Suspects in NSCDC Custody

The Allied Peoples Movement, APM, has condemned the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State.

The party also demanded an immediate, open and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, as well as the reported use of ammunition and tear gas against protesters who took to the streets following the incident.

In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Abubakar, the APM described the deaths as avoidable and expressed concern over reports that 66 detainees were held in a single cell under allegedly inhumane conditions.

The party said the explanation by authorities that the victims were suspected illegal miners who died following a suspected disease outbreak did not, in its view, explain the reported scale of the deaths.

The APM also raised concerns over reports that the detainees were subjected to excessive heat and were allegedly sprayed with an unidentified substance while in custody.

It said the incident had raised serious questions about the conditions under which the detainees were held and demanded that the investigation establish the immediate and underlying causes of the deaths.

“This is why our nation needs a reset. The lives of citizens must be treated with dignity as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The death of citizens in detention facilities cannot be justified under any guise,” the party said.

The APM further condemned the alleged use of ammunition and tear gas against protesters, warning that excessive use of force could lead to further casualties and escalation of tensions.

The party called for an unrestricted investigation into both the deaths and the alleged treatment of protesters, urging authorities to hold accountable anyone found responsible for wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths and suspended officers involved in the incident pending the outcome of the probe. The committee has been given two weeks to establish the identities of the deceased and investigate their arrest, detention and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

The APM commiserated with the families of the deceased and the people of Niger State, while urging Nigerians to remain calm and allow the investigation to establish the facts surrounding the incident.