By Emmanuel Thomas l Saturday, Sept 19, 2026
LAGOS — The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed deep concern and grief over the tragic deaths of 37 individuals detained in Minna, Niger State, calling for an independent, transparent, and credible investigation to ensure accountability and justice.
The victims, who were arrested on suspicion of illegal mining activities, were held in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna when reports emerged in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, 2026, confirming the fatalities. While early international media reports cited 33 bodies deposited at the General Hospital mortuary in Minna, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago subsequently confirmed that 37 lives were lost in the incident.
In an official statement issued on behalf of the legal body, NBA President Oyikansola Badejo extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, as well as the government and people of Niger State, while wishing survivors a quick physical and psychological recovery.
Custody and Human Rights Protections
Reacting to the incident, the NBA President stressed that every citizen in state custody remains entitled to fundamental human rights and protection under Nigerian law, regardless of the allegations against them.
”Thirty-seven lives have been lost. Thirty-seven families are grieving,” the statement read. “Whatever the circumstances that led to their arrest, these were 37 Nigerians who entered the custody of the NSCDC alive and who, while in that custody, were entitled to the protection of the law and to the preservation of their lives and human dignity.”
Explaining why the Association did not make an immediate public pronouncement following the incident, Badejo stated that the NBA deliberately avoided early conclusions to prevent speculation during a period of national grief and heightened emotions.
”The NBA deliberately refrained from making an immediate pronouncement on the cause or circumstances of these deaths,” Badejo noted. “At a time of understandable grief, anger, and speculation, we considered it important that the Association charged with defending the rule of law should not itself reach conclusions ahead of the evidence. That restraint must not, however, be mistaken for indifference.”
Acknowledging Government Interventions
The Association acknowledged the initial swift administrative and security responses ordered across state and federal levels. These steps include:
The suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC and the summoning of key senior officers.
Investigative panels set up by both the NSCDC leadership and the Niger State Government.
The independent intervention and investigation launched by the Nigeria Police Force.
On-the-ground deployments by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Minister of Interior.
Direct directives from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ordering a full investigation and promising strict disciplinary or legal actions against anyone found guilty of abuse, negligence, or dereliction of duty.
The NBA welcomed the President’s public stance that no citizen should lose their life in government custody due to inhumane treatment or poor oversight.
Demands for Transparency and Crucial Answers
Despite commending the early administrative actions, the legal body stressed that public confidence depends entirely on how thoroughly, transparently, and independently the investigations are carried out.
The Association outlined several critical questions that investigators must resolve:
Cause of Death: What is the precise, scientific cause of death for all 37 victims?
Facility Conditions: How many total detainees were kept in the NSCDC facility, what was its lawful capacity, and what were the structural conditions regarding space and ventilation?
Medical Emergency Response: What immediate medical care was available, and how did custodial staff react when detainees reportedly signaled distress or cried out for assistance?
Survivor Testimony: How will the accounts provided by surviving detainees regarding overcrowding and treatment be evaluated?
Badejo emphasized that while the NBA will not treat unverified allegations as proven facts, credible accounts from survivors must be thoroughly evaluated without bias.
The Association reiterated its commitment to monitoring the investigation closely to safeguard the rule of law and human rights protections across Nigeria’s custodial system.
