Falana urges prosecution of suspects linked to 37 miners’ deaths

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Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has called on the Attorney-General of Niger State, Nasiru Mu’azu, to ensure the speedy investigation and prosecution of all persons found culpable in the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna.

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Falana, in a statement on Saturday, said the Attorney-General should direct the relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and prosecute any NSCDC personnel or other individuals indicted by the investigation.

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The call came amid a Federal Government investigation into the deaths, which occurred on Thursday, September 17, after scores of people arrested during raids on suspected illegal mining sites were detained at an NSCDC facility in Minna.

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The government has since constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the incident and suspended officers linked to it pending the outcome of the probe.

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The Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, also confirmed the death of 37 detainees and said forensic and medical examinations, including autopsies, were being conducted to establish the cause of the deaths.

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The incident has generated protests in Minna, with reports indicating that some of the detainees were teenagers. Accounts from survivors and relatives have raised concerns about overcrowding and poor ventilation in the detention facility, although authorities have yet to establish a definitive cause of death.

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Falana said, “The Attorney-General of Niger State, Nasiru Mu’azu Esq. should ensure a speedy investigation by the State Police Command and immediate prosecution of all indicted suspects by the State Ministry of Justice.”

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According to him, the NSCDC had confirmed that more than 50 people were arrested over alleged illegal mining, with profiling and documentation still ongoing.

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He described the deaths as a reminder of longstanding concerns over the treatment of suspects in detention facilities across the country, arguing that the circumstances surrounding the Niger incident should not be treated as an isolated occurrence.

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Falana recalled the 1980 incident in which about 50 criminal suspects reportedly died after being locked inside a police transport van, popularly known as a “Black Maria,” at the premises of the Tinubu Magistrate Court in Lagos.

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He argued that despite such incidents, overcrowding and poor conditions in detention facilities had continued to expose suspects to serious risks.

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“The best way to honour the 37 suspects that were suffocated to death last week is to ensure that detention centres in the country meet the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules,” he said.

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The United Nations’ Mandela Rules set minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners, including requirements relating to accommodation, sanitation, ventilation, healthcare and the humane treatment of people deprived of their liberty.

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Falana also linked the Niger incident to a broader concern about the manner in which suspects, particularly people arrested for minor or alleged offences, are detained before trial.

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He urged the authorities to ensure that the investigation into the deaths establishes individual responsibility rather than ending with administrative sanctions.

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The Federal Government has said the investigation into the Niger deaths would be comprehensive, transparent and unhindered, while the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the government owed the families of the deceased and Nigerians an explanation of what happened.

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Falana also called on the Attorney-General of Ondo State, Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, to prosecute persons allegedly responsible for the mass poisoning that has killed 48 people in the state.

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control said 182 cases had been recorded as of September 17 following the reported consumption of locally prepared alcoholic and herbal concoctions in parts of Ondo State.

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NAFDAC said five victims had become totally blind while two others suffered partial blindness. Preliminary laboratory analysis also detected high concentrations of methanol in samples of the suspected beverages.

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The affected communities include New Town, Odole, Okele, Orita Odigbo, Araromi-Obu and Oniparaga, with Odigbo Town and Araromi-Obu recording the highest number of cases. The agency said cases had also been reported in Irele Local Government Area.

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NAFDAC said 15 people had been arrested in connection with the production, sale and distribution of the suspected toxic drinks, while investigations and surveillance were continuing.

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Falana urged Ajulo to take over the case with a view to ensuring the prosecution of suspects found responsible for the deaths.

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The lawyer said the two incidents in Niger and Ondo underscored the need for the relevant authorities to pursue accountability where investigations establish criminal responsibility, rather than allowing cases involving multiple deaths to end without prosecution.

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