Intervene over 37 miners’ deaths in NSCDC custody, SERAP tells UN

SERAP, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, has urged four UN Special Rapporteurs to urgently investigate the deaths of 37 miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State, as well as the reported use of lethal force against protesters in Minna. The 37 miners were reportedly arrested on September 15 and 16 during NSCDC operations targeting illegal and artisanal mining, and subsequently detained in Minna.

SERAP called on the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association; Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression; and Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders to establish responsibility, ensure accountability, and provide effective remedies to victims and their families.

The appeal also demanded an independent, impartial, prompt, thorough, effective, and transparent investigation into the deaths in custody and the reported use of lethal force against protesters.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.