Northern senators demand probe into deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners

The Northern Senators Forum has called for a comprehensive investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who were detained and later died in custody at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) facility in Minna, Niger State. In a statement, the forum's chairman, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, urging the government to provide clear answers about the incident.

The senators have requested the involvement of the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organizations, and independent forensic experts in the investigation. They also demanded independent autopsies for all victims, allowing family representatives and independent pathologists to participate.

The forum further called for the prosecution of anyone found guilty of criminal negligence, unlawful detention, or reckless conduct that contributed to the deaths, regardless of their rank or position. Additionally, they demanded a nationwide review of detention facilities operated by security agencies to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

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