Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, called on Friday for the immediate arrest and prosecution of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel after more than 30 miners died while in the agency’s custody in Niger State.
According to the Daily Post, about 37 suspected illegal miners lost their lives while detained by the NSCDC. The incident sparked outrage, prompting youths across the state to take to the streets in protest.
“At this point, the NSCDC officers involved should have been arrested and subjected to a thorough criminal investigation over the deaths of these innocent miners. Where the evidence establishes deliberate or pre‑meditated killings, those responsible must be charged for murder accordingly. There must be no cover‑up and no impunity for the unlawful taking of innocent lives,” Sowore wrote on his verified X account.
In response to the unrest, the Niger State Government imposed a 24‑hour curfew on Friday, aiming to restore order and prevent further clashes.
The NSCDC, a federal paramilitary agency tasked with protecting lives and property, has come under scrutiny as calls grow for a transparent inquiry into the miners’ deaths and accountability for any wrongdoing.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
