RismadarVoice Reporters
September 19, 2026
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 people who were detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
The detainees were reportedly arrested on suspicion of involvement in illegal mining.
The NBA, in a statement signed by its President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, said the deaths were a matter of grave concern, stressing that the victims were alive when they were taken into government custody.
Reports of the deaths emerged in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, 2026. While Reuters reported that 33 bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna mortuary, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago later confirmed that 37 people had died.
The association commiserated with the families of the deceased and called for the full recovery of those who survived the incident.
It said it had initially refrained from speculating on the cause of the deaths, arguing that conclusions should be based on evidence from a credible investigation.
“The deaths of 37 persons while in the custody of a government agency is an event of the utmost gravity and demands a thorough, independent, transparent and credible investigation,” the NBA said.
The association acknowledged the steps taken by the authorities following the incident, including the suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC and the summoning of senior officers.
It also noted investigations initiated by the NSCDC and the Niger State Government, as well as the involvement of the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
The NBA further acknowledged the intervention of the Minister of Interior and President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a full investigation into the deaths.
It said the effectiveness of the response would ultimately depend on the independence of the investigations, the publication of their findings and accountability for any wrongdoing established.
The association listed several questions it said investigators must answer, including the circumstances surrounding the deaths, the conditions under which the detainees were held, the capacity of the detention facility, the medical care available to them and the precise medical cause of death.
It also called for allegations that some detainees had cried for help before their deaths to be investigated.
‘A suspect is not a convict’
The NBA used the incident to renew its call for greater respect for the presumption of innocence and the rights of people in custody.
It said people arrested on suspicion of offences should not be treated as though they had already been convicted.
According to the association, the circumstances of the deaths should prompt a broader review of custodial practices within Nigeria’s security and law-enforcement agencies.
It said the authority to arrest and detain imposes a greater responsibility on the State to protect the lives and dignity of people in its custody.
The NBA said allegations concerning overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, treatment of detainees and the response to those who reportedly experienced medical distress should be subjected to evidence-based investigation.
The association also raised concerns over reports that children were among those arrested and some of those who died.
It called on the authorities to establish the identities and ages of all the detainees and deceased persons and determine whether legally required safeguards for children were observed.
The NBA said investigators should also determine how children became involved in mining activities and whether they were victims of exploitation.
It argued that where children are found working at illegal mining sites, authorities should investigate those who recruited, controlled or profited from their labour rather than treating the children solely as offenders.
The association said the investigation should extend beyond the people found physically working at the mining sites.
While describing illegal mining as a serious national problem, the NBA said enforcement should also target those who finance, control, organise or profit from unlawful mining activities.
It urged the authorities to establish the ownership and control structure of the mining operations linked to the incident and prosecute anyone found to have violated the law.
The association said it had constituted a team led by Jonathan Gunu Taidi, SAN, a former NBA General Secretary and resident of Minna, to examine the incident.
The team, comprising members of the NBA Minna Branch, will engage with the families of the deceased, survivors and relevant authorities.
It will also monitor the ongoing investigations and independently examine the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths.
The NBA called for the preservation of all relevant evidence and proper forensic and medical examinations.
It also urged authorities to protect surviving detainees and other witnesses from intimidation and make investigation findings public, subject to the law.
The association said anyone found criminally or otherwise legally responsible should be prosecuted regardless of their position or rank.
It further said it would monitor any resulting prosecutions to ensure that the rights of both victims and accused persons were protected.
The NBA appealed for calm, urging citizens not to resort to violence or destruction of property over the incident.
It said the deaths demanded answers based on evidence and a process capable of establishing the facts and ensuring accountability where wrongdoing was proved.
