The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called for an urgent, transparent and independent investigation into the deaths of 37 persons who reportedly died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
Obi, in a statement posted on his Facebook page, described the incident as a deeply troubling tragedy that requires urgent answers from the authorities.
The former Governor of Anambra State said the deceased were suspects who had been arrested in connection with alleged offences, stressing that their status as suspects did not deprive them of their fundamental rights as human beings.
“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.
Obi expressed concern over the reported number of deaths occurring within a detention facility over a short period, saying Nigerians deserved to know what led to the tragedy.
He noted that investigations were reportedly ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including reports of disease, overcrowding and inadequate ventilation.
According to him, the investigation must be credible and sufficiently transparent to establish what actually happened to the detainees.
“It is particularly disturbing that so many people could die within a place of detention in such a short period,” Obi said.
He argued that the responsibility of security agencies goes beyond arresting suspects, noting that institutions entrusted with maintaining security must also protect lives and uphold the dignity of citizens in their custody.
“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,” he said.
Obi further said the incident raised broader questions about accountability and respect for the rule of law in Nigeria.
“A nation cannot claim to value human life when people can enter government custody alive and emerge dead without immediate, transparent, and credible accountability,” he stated.
The NDC presidential candidate extended his condolences to the families of those who died and urged the authorities to ensure that justice was served.
He also called for a system in which the rule of law protects all citizens, including those being held in government custody.
“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,” Obi said.