ADC Demands Independent Probe Over Death of 37 Suspected Miners in Niger State NSCDC Custody

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly condemned the tragic deaths of 37 suspected artisanal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

The opposition party is demanding an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the incident.

In a statement issued by the ADC National Spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the incident as a grave violation of human rights. The party called for immediate actions to ensure accountability, including independent autopsies to verify the true cause of death, amid conflicting reports of a disease outbreak or extreme overcrowding.

It is also calling for transparency, specifically demanding the immediate publication of the victims’ identities and official detention records.

‘Poverty is Not a Death Sentence’: Demand for Justice and Reparations

The opposition political group has also demanded full prosecution of all complicit officials and comprehensive compensation for the bereaved families.

The ADC expressed outrage over the treatment of vulnerable citizens, declaring that the lives of poor Nigerians must not be treated as disposable.

“Poverty and unemployment are not capital offenses. No government institution has the right to return citizens to their families in body bags,” it said.

The party further accused the government of structural hypocrisy, arguing that law enforcement actively targets and arrests impoverished labourers while failing to expose or prosecute the powerful political and economic interests driving the country’s illicit mining networks.

While condoling with the families of the deceased, the opposition party reminded President Bola Tinubu’s administration that the tragedy cannot be isolated from the nation’s worsening cost-of-living crisis.

The party maintained that extreme inflation and unemployment are pushing millions of Nigerians into dangerous means of survival.

The ADC emphasized that even though the individuals were arrested during raids on mining sites, their constitutional rights to life, human dignity, and due process remained fully intact.

Government Response Thus Far

The deaths occurred following enforcement raids conducted on September 15 and 16 at the M.I. Wushishi Estate and Lukoto Village.

In the wake of public outcry, the Federal Government has ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending a full inquiry. The Nigeria Police Force has also launched a parallel homicide investigation into the mass fatalities.