By Felix Durumbah, Abuja
Piercing international searchlight has been beamed on the sordid happenings in Minna, the Niger State capital, where about 37 young alleged illegal miners yesterday died in a detention facility run by paramilitary Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a deep investigation into the widely condemned matter, just as Interior Minister, Tunji-Ojo, immediately sent the NSCDC Commandant in the North-Central State, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, home on suspension pending the conclusion of government-ordered probe into what many Nigerians described as avoidable deaths.
Today, the Save Nigeria Group USA (SNG-USA), which reviewed the occurrence, expressed profound heartbreak, outrage, and deep concern over the incident.
In a strongly-worded statement jointly signed by SNG-USA President, Stephen Osemwegie; Media Director, Victor Onyeka-Ben; and Public Relations Director, Autumn Miller, from Washington, D.C., and available to People&Politics tonight, the group deplored the sad event and demanded punishment of erring officials to serve as a deterrent to others.
The group referenced reports which stated that “the victims were among individuals arrested during NSCDC enforcement operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis between September 15 and 16, 2026. The detainees were subsequently found dead in custody in the early hours of September 17.”
The statement, titled ‘Save Nigeria Group USA Demands Transparent Justice Following The Tragic Custodial Deaths Of 37 Detainees In Minna, Niger State’, read in full: “The exact cause and circumstances of the deaths remain under investigation. While the NSCDC initially cited a suspected disease outbreak, survivor accounts and reports cited by international and Nigerian media have raised serious concerns regarding extreme overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, and conditions that may have contributed to the deaths. Authorities have ordered investigations and medical examinations to establish the facts.
“Save Nigeria Group USA firmly maintains: A criminal allegation must never become a death sentence.
“Regardless of the allegations against any detainee, every person in state custody is entitled to humane treatment, due process, and protection of life. The government has a fundamental responsibility to safeguard the lives and dignity of individuals placed under its control.
”If negligence, abuse, unlawful detention practices, excessive overcrowding, extortion, or any other misconduct contributed to these deaths, those responsible must be identified and held accountable through due process.
“WE DEMAND IMMEDIATE, INDEPENDENT AND TRANSPARENT ACTION:
“SNG-USA acknowledges the initial measures announced by the Nigerian authorities, including the suspension of Niger State NSCDC Commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye pending investigation and the establishment of a state-level committee to investigate the deaths. The Federal Government has also ordered a full investigation, while authorities have indicated that medical examinations/autopsies are being pursued to establish the cause of death.
“However, given the scale and seriousness of this tragedy, SNG-USA calls for the following:
“1. An Independent and Credible Investigation:
“We call for a transparent investigation that is sufficiently independent, impartial, and credible to determine precisely what happened inside the detention facility.
“The investigation should include independent medical experts, relevant human-rights and civil-society representatives, and appropriate judicial oversight. Its findings should be made public.
“1. Establish the Exact Cause of Death:
“The Nigerian authorities must establish, through credible forensic and medical evidence, the exact cause and circumstances of each death.
Any conflicting accounts must be resolved through evidence—not speculation, institutional protection, or political pressure.
“1. Prosecution Where Criminal Liability Is Established:
“Any officer, official, custodian, contractor, or other individual found through credible investigation to have committed a criminal offense, acted with gross negligence, abused detainees, engaged in extortion, or otherwise contributed unlawfully to these deaths should face prosecution in accordance with Nigerian law.
“4. Immediate Review of Detention Conditions:
“The Federal Government should conduct an urgent nationwide audit of NSCDC, police, correctional, and other custodial facilities, with particular attention to overcrowding, ventilation, sanitation, medical care, detainee registration, access to legal counsel, and emergency-response procedures.
“No detention facility should hold people under conditions that place their lives at foreseeable risk.
“CONCERN OVER THE RESPONSE TO PROTESTS IN MINNA:
“SNG-USA is also deeply concerned by reports of protests in Minna following the deaths.
“We recognize the responsibility of security agencies to protect public safety and prevent violence or destruction of property. At the same time, citizens have legitimate rights to peaceful assembly, expression, and demands for accountability.
“Reports regarding the use of force by security personnel during the unrest should themselves be independently examined. Any use of firearms or other potentially lethal force must be assessed against applicable Nigerian law and established standards governing the protection of life and the policing of public assemblies.
“We therefore call on security commanders to exercise maximum restraint, professionalism, and proportionality and to distinguish peaceful protesters from individuals engaged in violence or criminal destruction.
“The response to citizens demanding answers for the deaths of their loved ones must not result in additional loss of life.
“A CALL FOR CALM AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN ACTION:
“Save Nigeria Group USA calls on the people of Niger State—particularly affected families, youth, mining communities, community leaders, and civil-society organizations—to remain calm and pursue accountability through peaceful and lawful means.
“We strongly discourage the destruction of public or private property, attacks on security personnel, or other acts of violence that could deepen the tragedy and result in further loss of innocent lives.
“At the same time, peaceful citizens must not be silenced from demanding answers, justice, and accountability.
“ADDRESSING ILLEGAL MINING AND PROTECTING NIGERIA’S NATURAL RESOURCES:
“SNG-USA recognizes the legitimate responsibility of government to combat illegal mining and protect Nigeria’s natural resources.
“Illegal mining can deprive government of lawful revenue, damage communities and ecosystems, and create conditions that may be exploited by criminal networks.
“Enforcement efforts, however, must be conducted within the law and with full respect for human rights and the dignity of every person.
“We therefore urge government to pursue lawful mining enforcement while protecting vulnerable young people from exploitation and ensuring that mining communities are not subjected to arbitrary or abusive practices.
“OUR COMMITMENT TO JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY:
“The Save Nigeria Group USA stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the families of the 37 deceased Nigerians during this painful and deeply troubling moment.
“We extend our condolences to every family mourning a loved one and call for the dignity of the deceased to be respected throughout all investigative and legal processes.
“SNG-USA will continue to monitor developments surrounding this tragedy and engage with relevant civil-society, human-rights, governmental, and international stakeholders to encourage transparency, accountability, due process, and justice.
“The Nigerian people deserve answers.
The families deserve the truth.
And every person entrusted to the custody of the state deserves protection of their life and dignity.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: Some of the dead illegal mining suspects.
