By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the Nigerian chapter of Transparency International, has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
The organisation said the suspension of officers linked to the incident should not be regarded as a substitute for accountability, insisting that anyone found criminally responsible must face prosecution.
The victims were among scores of people arrested during NSCDC operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on September 15 and 16. The deaths were discovered on September 17.
The NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, while authorities subsequently ordered investigations to establish the actual cause and circumstances of the fatalities.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased and stressed that allegations of illegal mining could not justify any treatment that endangered the lives or dignity of people held in state custody.
The organisation said every person detained by the state remained entitled to fundamental rights, including the right to life and protection from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
CISLAC acknowledged the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and other officers, as well as the steps taken by the authorities to investigate the incident.
However, it urged the government to ensure that the investigation was genuinely independent, transparent and capable of establishing individual and institutional responsibility.
The Federal Government has since constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the reported deaths, including the circumstances of the arrests, detention and fatalities. The committee has also been empowered to access relevant facilities and documents and submit its report within two weeks.
CISLAC Seeks Forensic Investigation
CISLAC called for the participation of the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations and forensic experts in the investigation.
It further urged authorities to make relevant detention records, medical reports and other findings available to the public, subject to applicable legal and privacy requirements.
The organisation said officers or other officials found to have contributed to the deaths through negligence, abuse of authority or other unlawful conduct should be prosecuted.
According to CISLAC, administrative sanctions would not be sufficient where the investigation establishes criminal responsibility.
Beyond the Immediate Incident
The advocacy group also linked the illegal mining crisis to broader socioeconomic challenges, including poverty, unemployment, insecurity, inadequate access to education, weak social protection and regulatory shortcomings.
It argued that these factors continue to expose vulnerable families and children to dangerous and exploitative mining activities.
CISLAC therefore called for a wider review of Nigeria’s mining regulatory and enforcement framework, stressing that efforts to combat illegal mining should also address the conditions that push vulnerable people into the sector.
The organisation cited its earlier research, Gold and Graves: Zamfara Lead Poisoning and the Failure of Regulatory Oversight, which documented the human-rights and health consequences associated with unsafe mining practices and inadequate regulatory oversight in Zamfara State.
It said the lessons from that experience remained relevant to the current situation.
Detention Conditions Under Scrutiny
CISLAC also called for an immediate review of detention conditions across the country.
It demanded adequate ventilation, access to medical care, food and potable water, as well as compliance with established detention-capacity and human-rights standards.
The organisation further urged the government to provide appropriate compensation, psychosocial support and other forms of redress to the families of the deceased and survivors.
It also called for a review of the treatment of artisanal miners and enforcement practices, arguing that the fight against illegal mining should not result in the criminalisation of poverty.
“The Nigerian state has a sacred duty to protect the lives of all citizens, including those in its custody. Anything less erodes public trust and the rule of law,” CISLAC said.
The organisation said it would continue to monitor the investigation and engage relevant authorities to ensure that the Minna incident leads to stronger institutional safeguards, improved regulatory oversight and accountability.
