By Sandra Kenneth
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has demanded an independent and transparent investigation into the tragic deaths of 37 detainees in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
In a joint statement issued by FIDA Nigeria Country Vice President, Eliana Martins, and National Publicity Secretary, Chineze Obianyo, the rights group raised grave concerns over the state’s failure to protect the lives and dignity of persons in its custody.
The organization expressed deep alarm over reports that children were among those detained, with account details indicating that a seven-year-old child was among the victims. FIDA highlighted testimonies from survivors describing severe overcrowding, extreme heat, and inadequate ventilation within the detention facility, which left detainees struggling to breathe before dying.
“Custody places a heightened duty of care on the state; it does not suspend human rights,” the statement stressed, emphasizing that arrest does not strip individuals of their fundamental rights to dignity and human protection.
FIDA called for a comprehensive inquiry into the arrest parameters, detention conditions, capacity limits, and medical care availability during the incident. It further urged authorities to secure critical evidence, including arrest logs, CCTV footage, medical files, duty rosters, and forensic records.
While welcoming the Federal Government’s setup of an independent panel and the suspension of officers linked to the facility, FIDA insisted the investigation must be transparent and yield criminal accountability for anyone found liable.
The organization also demanded immediate psychosocial, legal, and medical assistance for all surviving children involved, along with an urgent national review of detention conditions across all security agencies.
