The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called for urgent answers following the reported death of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
In a statement made available to The News Chronicle, Obi described the incident as a deeply troubling tragedy, stressing that the deceased were suspects who, regardless of the offences they were accused of committing, remained human beings entitled to dignity and humane treatment while awaiting due process.
“Whatever offence they were suspected of committing, they were still human beings, and the responsibility of the State was to keep them alive, safe, and treated humanely while due process took its course,” he said.
He said it was particularly disturbing that such a large number of people could die in a detention facility within such a short period.
Obi noted that while investigations were ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including reports of disease, overcrowding and inadequate ventilation, Nigerians deserved a transparent, independent and credible investigation to establish exactly what happened.
He stressed that the responsibility of security agencies goes beyond arresting suspects, saying security also entails protecting lives, upholding human dignity and ensuring that institutions entrusted with public safety operate within the law.
“A nation cannot claim to value human life when people can enter government custody alive and emerge dead without immediate, transparent, and credible accountability,” Obi said.
He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and urged the authorities to ensure that justice was done.
According to him, Nigeria must become a country where the rule of law protects every citizen, including those in custody.
“Let’s begin to give dignity to human lives in our land,” he said, while praying that God would grant the bereaved families the strength to bear their loss.
