By Jelili Gbadamosi
The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has called for an investigation into the deaths of 37 artisanal miners who reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State.
The organisation also urged the Federal Government to review the NSCDC’s custodial procedures nationwide and provide compensation to the families of the deceased.
MURIC made the call in a statement issued on Sunday by its Coordinator for Northern States and Abuja, Malam Hassan Sani Indabawa.
Indabawa said the circumstances surrounding the deaths required urgent investigation, particularly reports alleging that the miners were held in an overcrowded cell with inadequate ventilation and excessive heat.
He argued that the reported conditions raised concerns about the treatment of detainees and cited Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.
According to Indabawa, the organisation received reports of the deaths on September 17, 2026, involving 37 artisanal miners, whom he said were largely teenagers, at the NSCDC Command in Minna, Niger State.
MURIC said the alleged circumstances of the incident warranted accountability and immediate steps to establish what led to the deaths.
The organisation called for justice for the deceased and urged the government to provide adequate compensation to their parents and other bereaved relatives.
It also appealed to the Federal Government to conduct a comprehensive review of the NSCDC’s operational and custodial practices to identify weaknesses and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
MURIC said strengthening custodial standards would also help restore public confidence in the security agency.
It was reported that 37 artisanal miners were reported to have died while in NSCDC custody in Niger State.
