The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has condemned the reported death of 37 Nigerians while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at a detention centre in Minna, Niger State, and is demanding an open, transparent investigation into the incident.
According to the party’s statement, 66 detainees were allegedly crammed into a single cell for more than two days. The APM says 37 of those detainees died from excessive heat after being sprayed with an unidentified substance, describing the conditions as “very inhuman.” The party rejected the authorities’ explanation that the victims were illegal miners who succumbed to a suspected disease outbreak, arguing that it does not address the reported detention conditions.
“The avoidable death of these citizens who were reportedly detained in very inhuman conditions in a government facility is yet another sad episode which further spotlights the level of inconsequentiality the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration attaches to human lives,” National Publicity Secretary Yusuf Abubakar said.
The APM also condemned reports that security agencies used ammunition and tear‑gas against citizens protesting the deaths, warning that such force could exacerbate the situation and lead to further loss of life. The party called for a “prompt, open, transparent and unrestricted investigation” into both the deaths at the NSCDC facility and the alleged use of force against demonstrators.
Emphasising constitutional protections, the APM urged that “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 expressed sympathy for the families of the deceased and the people of Niger State, and appealed for calm while investigations continue, noting that the incident occurs against a backdrop of broader security challenges such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and armed robbery in Nigeria.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
