Odita Sunday 
HURIWA Demands Independent Probe Into Reported Deaths Of 37 Suspected Miners In NSCDC Custody
By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for an independent inquiry into the reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, saying the circumstances surrounding the deaths require investigation beyond the security agency itself.
HURIWA said the reported deaths raised serious questions about what happened to the suspects after they were arrested during enforcement operations around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The organisation’s demand comes after the NSCDC announced that it had constituted a high-powered investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and said the actual cause of death was yet to be established through medical and laboratory examination.
HURIWA welcomed the decision to investigate but argued that the NSCDC should not be solely responsible for investigating an incident involving people who died while in its custody.
The rights group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government to constitute an independent judicial or multi-agency panel comprising forensic pathologists, medical experts, representatives of the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations and other institutions not connected to the detention operation.
It also called for full autopsies and independent laboratory and toxicological examinations to establish the cause of each death.
According to HURIWA, the investigation should establish the condition of each suspect at the point of arrest, the number of people detained, where they were held, how long they remained in custody, the food and water provided, medical treatment administered and the personnel who had responsibility for them.
The organisation further called for the preservation and independent examination of CCTV footage, detention registers, medical records, arrest records, duty rosters and communication logs relating to the detainees.
HURIWA said any officer found, after due process, to have unlawfully caused or contributed to the deaths should face appropriate criminal prosecution where the evidence supports such action.
It also called for the suspension of officers directly implicated by preliminary evidence pending the outcome of an independent investigation.
The organisation warned against attributing the deaths to any particular disease before medical and laboratory examinations establish the cause, echoing the NSCDC’s own position that such reports remain unconfirmed.
HURIWA also demanded that the families of the deceased be formally notified and given access to relevant independent medical information as efforts are made to establish what happened to their relatives.
Where state responsibility is established, the organisation demanded compensation of ₦100 million for each deceased person, in addition to prosecution of officials found responsible and any other remedies available under Nigerian law.
The rights group further urged the Federal Government to account for everyone still being held in connection with the Niger State illegal mining operation and ensure that their health, safety and fundamental rights are protected.
In a statement issued on Friday, 18th September 2026, HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, described the reported deaths as what the organisation called a “state-sponsored” human rights violation and urged the government not to allow the matter to end with an internal investigation.
HURIWA said the outcome of an independent inquiry should establish responsibility, provide justice for the families and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
About the Author
