Nigerian Bar Association Forms Team to Independently Investigate Deaths of 37 in NSCDC Custody
NBA Launches Independent Probe into Custody Deaths
The Nigerian Bar Association has formed an independent investigative team led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to examine the deaths of 37 people in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State, following their arrest on suspicion of illegal mining. [1] The NBA president described the deaths of 37 suspects in government custody as an event of utmost gravity requiring a thorough, independent, transparent and credible investigation. [1] The NBA team, headed by Jonathan Gunu Taidi, SAN, will engage with families of the deceased, surviving detainees, and authorities while monitoring official probes. [1] The Nigerian Bar Association has said it will not be a spectator in the investigation into the deaths of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State. [1] The association said it had constituted a team headed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former General Secretary of the NBA, Jonathan Gunu Taidi, SAN, to independently establish the circumstances surrounding the arrest, detention and deaths of the detainees. [1] The NBA President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, following reports of the deaths of persons arrested on suspicion of illegal mining. [1] The team, according to the statement, will engage with the families of the deceased, surviving detainees and their families, as well as relevant authorities, while monitoring the investigations already underway. [1]
Details of the Deaths and Detention Conditions
Investigators must determine the scientific cause of death, conditions of detention including reports of overcrowding and lack of ventilation, the facility's lawful capacity, available medical attention, and circumstances preceding the deaths. [1] The NBA called for establishing ownership and control of the mining operations, pursuing not only physical labourers but also those who organised, financed or profited from illegal mining. [1] Reports that children were among the detained must be investigated to establish their ages, identities, and whether they were victims of exploitation. [1] The association said investigators must establish how the detainees died within such a short period, the conditions in which they were held, the lawful capacity of the facility, the medical attention available and the scientific cause of death. [1] It also urged authorities to investigate reports concerning overcrowding, lack of ventilation, the treatment of detainees and the circumstances immediately preceding the deaths. [1] The NBA said the deceased had been described as illegal miners but stressed that they were suspects who had not been tried or convicted. [2] The association said illegal mining was a serious national problem that deprived Nigeria of revenue, damaged communities and the environment, and was in some circumstances associated with organised criminal activity. [2] The call followed the deaths of 37 persons who had been arrested over suspected illegal mining and were being held by the NSCDC in Minna. [2] While Reuters reported that 33 bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna mortuary, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, confirmed 37 deaths. [2]
Calls to Investigate Mining Operation Owners and Financiers
The NBA called for establishing ownership and control of the mining operations, pursuing not only physical labourers but also those who organised, financed or profited from illegal mining. [1] The association stressed that those carrying out physical labour at mining sites should not be the only people targeted if others organised, financed or profited from the operations. [1] The NBA also urged authorities to establish who owns, controls, finances and profits from the mining operations linked to the detainees, stressing that enforcement should not stop with people carrying out physical labour at mining sites. [2] The association made the demands in a statement by its President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, on Saturday, following the deaths of the detainees, which were reported in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, 2026. [2] The NBA warned that poverty and vulnerability should not make labourers the easiest targets for arrest while those who organise and profit from illegal mining remain beyond the reach of enforcement. [2] It urged the relevant authorities to establish the ownership and control of the mining operations and pursue everyone found responsible. [1] The NBA also raised concerns over reports that children were among those detained and possibly among the deceased, saying the ages and identities of those involved must be officially established. [1] It said the investigation should determine who put children at the mining sites, who controlled the operations and whether they were victims of exploitation. [1]
Government Actions and Presidential Directive
The Nigerian government has suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, set up investigations, and President Bola Tinubu has directed a full transparent probe with accountability for abuse, negligence or dereliction of duty. [1] The NBA acknowledged the steps already taken by government, including the suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, investigative mechanisms set up by the NSCDC and Niger State Government, interventions by the Nigeria Police Force and Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, and the intervention of the Minister of Interior. [1] It also noted President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a full and transparent investigation and accountability for anyone found responsible through abuse, negligence or dereliction of duty. [1] The association acknowledged the steps already taken by government, including the suspension of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, the constitution of investigative mechanisms by the NSCDC and Niger State Government, the intervention of the Nigeria Police Force and Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, as well as the intervention of the Minister of Interior. [2] It also noted President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a full and transparent investigation and for anyone found responsible through abuse, negligence or dereliction of duty to be held accountable. [2]
NBA's Emphasis on Presumption of Innocence and Due Process
The NBA president described the deaths of 37 suspects in government custody as an event of utmost gravity requiring a thorough, independent, transparent and credible investigation. [1] The association said it expected all relevant evidence to be preserved, proper forensic and medical investigations conducted, and surviving detainees and other material witnesses protected and allowed to give their accounts without intimidation. [1] It also said the findings of the investigations should be made public to the fullest extent permitted by law. [1] The NBA also stressed that the deceased were suspects and had not been convicted of any offence. [1] The association further raised concerns over reports that children were among those detained and possibly among the deceased, saying the ages and identities of those involved must be officially established. [1] The NBA deliberately refrained from making an immediate pronouncement on the cause or circumstances of these deaths. [2] The NBA said while Reuters reported that 33 bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna mortuary, Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, confirmed 37 deaths. [2] The association said it deliberately refrained from immediately determining the cause or circumstances of the deaths, insisting that conclusions should be based on evidence. [2]
Urgent Appeal for Calm and Evidence-Based Justice
The NBA urged citizens to remain calm and allow the investigations to proceed, saying violence and destruction would not restore the lives lost. [1] It said where evidence disclosed criminal or other legal responsibility, those responsible should be brought before the law irrespective of rank or office. [1] The NBA said it had constituted a team headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former General Secretary of the association, Jonathan Gunu Taidi, SAN, to engage the families of the deceased, survivors and relevant authorities and independently establish the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths. [2] It said all relevant evidence must be preserved, with proper forensic and medical investigations conducted and surviving detainees and material witnesses protected from intimidation. [2] The association said where investigations disclosed criminal or other legal responsibility, those responsible should be brought before the law, irrespective of rank or office. [2] It also urged citizens to remain calm and allow the investigations to proceed, stressing that the deaths demanded answers based on evidence rather than conjecture. [2]
What to watch next: The effectiveness of the response will ultimately depend on the independence and thoroughness of the investigations, transparency of their findings and accountability arising from them, with the NBA stating it will be present when the process reaches the courts.
