The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has condemned the death of about 37 persons suspected to be artisanal miners while in custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State.
The Commission called for an independent forensic autopsy and preservation of all evidence, stressing that the investigation ordered by the Interior Minister and the NSCDC must be transparent, thorough and comply with international standards for investigating potentially unlawful deaths in custody.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Tony Ojukwu, SAN in a statement on Friday condemned the death in the entirety and demanded that circumstances that led to the death must be thoroughly probed.
Ojukwu expressed deep concern over the incident which occurred after the miners were arrested during enforcement operations in the Wushishi-Lukoto area on September 15 and 16, and whose bodies were later deposited at the General Hospital, Minna.
He said the Commission commiserates with the families of the deceased and the people of Niger State, and has ordered preliminary investigation to accertain the cause of death of the miners in custody.
The NHRC boss called for an independent forensic autopsy and preservation of all evidence, stressing that the investigation ordered by the Interior Minister and the NSCDC must be transparent, thorough and comply with international standards for investigating potentially unlawful deaths in custody.
Ojukwu reminded law enforcement agencies that suspicion of illegal mining does not extinguish the constitutional rights of citizens, adding that every person in custody must be treated with dignity in accordance with the law.
“Citizens who are arrested on suspicion by law enforcement agents are by law expected to enjoy the full compliment of their fundamental human right in accordance with national and international human rights instruments” the learned Silk added.
He urged youths in Minna to remain calm and refrain from violence, assuring that the Commission will ensure accountability and that appropriate remedies are provided where violations are established.
The reaction of the NHRC boss was contained in a statement signed on his behalf by Mrs Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Director Corporate Affairs and External Linkages.