By Okechukwu Onuegbu
A Pro-Democracy & Human Rights Advocate, Austin Aigbe, has described the report of 37 deaths in the custody of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as a national disaster and demanded for accountability.
Aigbe, who stated this in a statement on Saturday, argued that the State owed the young men NSCDC officials arrested in the Wushishi-Lukoto axis, Niger State for alleged illegal mining, absolute duty of care, protection of their dignity, and preservation of their lives under Section 33 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Anti-Torture Act 2017, and Nigeria's obligations under international human rights law.
"I demand an Independent, Transparent Investigation which must include the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, medical experts, and credible civil society groups. Autopsy reports must be made public.
"The suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC is not enough. All officers who were on duty at the detention facility on that day must be held accountable and prosecuted if found culpable. The families of the 37 deceased must be identified, adequately compensated, and given psychosocial support.
"The remaining detainees from that operation must be released or charged to a competent court immediately and their health assessed. This tragedy exposes the colonial legacy of our detention system where poor Nigerians are warehoused in inhumane conditions. We must audit all NSCDC and police detention facilities across the country.
"Nigeria's democracy is already facing turbulence and citizens' trust in institutions is at an all-time low. When citizens die in custody and the state cannot explain why, democracy itself is at risk," he added.