Activist, Maduabuchi Idam, on Saturday, described the death of 37 illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna, Niger State as state-sponsored banditry.
The illegal miners died while being held by the NSCDC after enforcement actions carried out around Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate, in Minna, Niger State.
Reacting, Idam said the death of the miners is an indication that the Nigerian government does not place much value on human life.
In a statement he signed, Idam said: “I read the news of the death of 37 young boys in NSCDC custody, who were allegedly arrested as suspects for illegal mining activities in Borgu, Niger State. This is not only a despicable omen but also state-sponsored banditry.
“What more needs to happen in Nigeria to require international intervention on the state of human rights abuse in Nigeria?
“This has again reminded me of the event in which the American authorities detailed and led a swift military operation all the way from the United States to Nigeria just to rescue a single American citizen who was held in custody of kidnappers in Nigeria.
“The same experience cannot be said of Nigeria to its citizens. Human life does not seem to mean that much to Nigerian authorities.”
The human rights lawyer noted that those in authority and politicians are preoccupied with how to acquire power and loot funds instead of protecting human life.
Idam added: “What matters so much in this part of the world is how to acquire political power by any means and thereafter loot public funds.
“With these ugly happenings, it is safe to say that both the State and bandits are competing over who has unlawfully claimed more lives of citizens in Nigeria.
“It is unacceptable to see a healthy-looking young people die untimely, in the custody of the State that ought to protect them, simply on the account of a mere allegation of a crime that do not even carry death as a penalty assuming they are tried and convicted.”
The lawyer urged the Nigerian government to investigate and prosecute those involved in the death of the miners.
“Interestingly, no offence carries pretrial execution as a penalty, nor does any offence justify the dumping of human beings in a poorly ventilated facility in the guise of detention.
“As a matter of fact, decent custody, among other healthy safeguards, is a right available to a suspect of any crime, regardless of how heinous.
“One is compelled to demand not only an investigation into the cause of death but also the prosecution of those involved and the application of appropriate penalties against officers involved in causing their deaths, while the State must also adequately compensate the family members of the deceased for this avoidable loss,” he added.
Death of 37 Niger miners state-sponsored banditry, prosecute those responsible – Activist, Idam