The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called for an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 Nigerians who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, insisting that the lives of citizens must be protected regardless of their economic or social circumstances.

The deaths occurred after suspected illegal miners were arrested during anti-illegal mining operations in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026. The Niger State Government has confirmed the death of 37 detainees and announced an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

In a statement signed by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party demanded a comprehensive investigation capable of establishing what happened to the detainees, how they were treated while in custody and who should be held accountable.

The ADC is calling for independent autopsies, the publication of the identities and detention records of the victims, compensation for their families, and the prosecution of any officials found responsible for wrongdoing.

“Thirty-seven Nigerians entered government custody alive. Their families are now being asked to receive their bodies. This is an indictment on this government about the value of the average Nigerian life. Low income Nigerians are not disposable, and no Nigerian should lose his or her life simply because they were arrested while struggling to survive,” the party said.

ADC Calls for Accountability Over Deaths in Custody

The party said the circumstances surrounding the deaths require urgent scrutiny, particularly because the victims were in state custody when they died.

The NSCDC initially said the detainees were found dead following a suspected disease outbreak, while subsequent investigations have been launched to determine the actual circumstances and cause of the deaths. The Federal Government has constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the incident and suspended officers connected to it pending the outcome of the probe.

The ADC maintained that being arrested over alleged illegal mining activities did not remove the detainees’ constitutional rights to life, dignity and due process.

“We must be clear: poverty is not a capital offence. Unemployment is not a death sentence. No accusation, whatever the case, gives any government institution the right to return citizens to their families in body bags,” the party said.

Party Links Incident to Nigeria’s Economic Hardship

The ADC also linked the incident to the broader economic pressures facing many Nigerians, arguing that unemployment, rising living costs and shrinking economic opportunities have left vulnerable citizens increasingly dependent on informal and high-risk sources of income.

The party accused the APC-led Federal Government of failing to adequately address these economic pressures while intensifying enforcement against people involved in illegal mining.

“The same APC-led federal government that has failed to provide jobs is now criminalising the desperation created by its own policies. Food is unaffordable, transportation has become a luxury, businesses are closing and legitimate opportunities are disappearing. Yet, rather than confront these failures, the government continues to punish the victims of its failures,” the ADC stated.

ADC Questions Enforcement of Illegal Mining Laws

The party further questioned the focus of enforcement efforts, alleging that poor miners are being arrested while more powerful individuals who finance or benefit from illegal mining and related criminal networks are not being adequately pursued.

The ADC called for law-enforcement efforts to extend beyond the arrest of vulnerable miners and to identify those who finance, coordinate or profit from illegal mining operations.

“The poor are arrested for digging to survive, while the powerful men who finance illegal mining, sponsor insecurity and cart away Nigeria’s mineral wealth remain beyond the reach of the law,” the party said.

The ADC added that the investigation should establish responsibility without shielding any individual whose conduct may have contributed to the deaths.

ADC: Nigerians Deserve Jobs, Security and Justice

The party expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and urged the authorities to ensure that the investigation is comprehensive, transparent and capable of providing answers to relatives and the wider public.

The Federal Government has said the independent committee will investigate the arrests, detention and deaths and determine responsibility, complicity, negligence or misconduct connected to the incident. The Inspector-General of Police has also assured the Niger State Government of a thorough police investigation.

Concluding its statement, the ADC said the incident underscores the need for a government that protects citizens while addressing the economic conditions that leave many people vulnerable.

“President Tinubu must decide whether Nigeria’s security institutions exist to protect citizens or punish them for being poor. Nigerians need jobs, security and justice, not an economy that impoverishes them and institutions that treat their lives as disposable,” the ADC concluded.