The death of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, is a deeply troubling tragedy that demands urgent answers.
These were persons who had been arrested as suspects. 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.
It is particularly disturbing that so many people could die
within a place of detention in such a short period. While investigations are
ongoing into the actual cause of these deaths, including reports concerning
disease, overcrowding, and inadequate ventilation, Nigerians deserve a
transparent, independent, and credible investigation that establishes exactly
what happened.
This tragedy also reminds us that security is not merely about
arresting people. Security is about protecting lives, upholding the dignity of
every citizen, and ensuring that the institutions entrusted with our 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.
I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased
and urge the authorities to ensure that justice is done. Nigeria must become a
country where the rule of law protects every citizen, not only those who are
free but also those who are in custody.
May God grant the families the strength to bear this painful
loss.
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