The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for an immediate, independent and transparent probe into the deaths of 37 Nigerian illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Friday, the ADC demanded that the deaths be investigated by an independent body and that autopsies be carried out on the victims. The party also urged that the results of these examinations be made public.
The incident, which took place in Niger State, has raised concerns about the conditions under which the miners were held by the NSCDC. The ADC’s call for a transparent inquiry reflects growing pressure on security forces to account for the deaths of detainees.
While the statement does not detail the circumstances that led to the fatalities, it stresses the need for accountability and for the public to receive full disclosure of the findings from any independent investigations.
The ADC’s demand comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the NSCDC’s handling of illegal mining operations across Nigeria, a sector that has long been associated with safety violations and human rights concerns.
<small>Source: Punch Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>