Minna Deaths: FCT Natives Demand Autopsy, Prosecution Of Those Behind 37 Deaths

The indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the aegis of the Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO), have demanded a full-scale investigation, independent forensic autopsies and prosecution of anyone found culpable in the deaths of 37 Nigerians who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

The group described the incident as a grave tragedy and an alleged violation of the fundamental duty of the state to protect citizens in its custody, warning that the deaths must not be reduced to an internal disciplinary matter or buried under another inconclusive investigation.

In a statement on Sunday, signed by its executive director, Commandant Isaac David, the natives said the incident was particularly painful to the original inhabitants of the FCT because of the longstanding ancestral and historical ties between communities in Abuja and Niger State.

The Niger State government confirmed that 37 persons died after they were arrested during operations around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16 and were subsequently found dead in custody in the early hours of September 17.

The deaths sparked public anger and protests in Minna, while the federal government suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and 20 officers and constituted an independent investigative panel to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Reacting to the development, David said the suspension of the officers should only mark the beginning of a process that must establish what happened and identify individual responsibility.

“37 Nigerians entered the custody of a government security agency alive and left as corpses. That alone should shock the conscience of every Nigerian.

“We cannot accept a situation where citizens are taken into custody and their families receive their bodies instead of their loved ones,” he said.

He demanded that anyone found to have caused, facilitated or negligently contributed to the deaths should face prosecution, irrespective of rank or position.

“If the investigation establishes that these deaths resulted from negligence, overcrowding, suffocation, deliberate acts, abuse, failure of duty or any other criminal conduct, those responsible must face the full weight of the law.

“Nobody should be protected because he wears a uniform or occupies an official position,” David said.

The FCT indigenous group also called for independent forensic autopsies on all the deceased, saying medical evidence was essential to establishing the actual cause and circumstances of death.

“We need facts, not speculation. We need independent forensic autopsies, proper identification of the deceased, medical records, detention records, statements from officers and detainees, and every available piece of evidence that can tell Nigerians exactly what happened,” he said.

David warned that the investigation must not become an exercise designed merely to apportion administrative sanctions.

“Suspension is not justice. Investigation is not justice by itself. Justice comes when the truth is established, responsibility is identified and those found culpable are held accountable under the law,” he said.

The organisation also demanded that all evidence connected to the incident be preserved, while urging the government to prevent suspected officials from interfering with witnesses, records or other evidence.

“Nobody should be allowed to intimidate witnesses, destroy records or manipulate evidence. If there is an attempt to cover up what happened, that cover-up itself must attract consequences,” David said.

He said the bereaved families deserved clear answers, stressing that the 37 victims should not be reduced to statistics.

“These families did not lose statistics; they lost fathers, sons, brothers and relatives. For every body recovered, there is a family somewhere waiting for answers.

“They deserve to know how their loved ones died, who was responsible and why those deaths occurred while they were under government custody,” he said.

The group appealed to youths and other protesters in Minna to remain peaceful and law-abiding, warning that violence could distract from the central demand for accountability.

“We understand the anger. We understand the pain. But let the people remain peaceful while demanding justice. Do not allow anybody to divert the attention from the deaths of these Nigerians,” David said.

AOIYEO also called on President Bola Tinubu to personally visit Niger State and meet with the bereaved families, arguing that such a visit would demonstrate the seriousness attached to the incident by the federal government.

“The President should come to Niger State, not merely through a delegation. Let him look into the eyes of these families and tell them that their loved ones did not die in vain.

“Presidential visits should not only happen when politicians are asking citizens for votes. There are moments when leadership is measured by presence, compassion and the courage to confront painful questions,” he said.

The group further demanded compensation and sustained support for the families of the deceased, but stressed that financial assistance must not be used to shut down the investigation or substitute for criminal accountability.

“No amount of compensation can bring back a human life. But the families must not be abandoned. They have suffered an irreparable loss and the government has a responsibility to engage them directly, provide support and ensure that they are treated with dignity.

“Compensation is restitution; it is not a substitute for justice. If anybody committed a crime, that person must still answer for it,” he said.

The FCT indigenous people also called for urgent reforms of detention facilities operated by security agencies, including measures to address overcrowding, ventilation, access to medical care, detainee registration and independent monitoring.

David stressed that arrest did not strip citizens of their basic rights.

“Even if those arrested were suspected of illegal mining or any other offence, suspicion is not a death sentence. The government has the right to enforce its laws, but it must enforce those laws within the law.

“Every person in custody remains a human being whose life and dignity must be protected,” he said.

The organisation said its concern over the incident was heightened by the historical relationship between Niger State and the FCT, noting that communities in the two areas share longstanding ancestral ties.

“Our ancestors are one. The people of Niger are not strangers to us. They are our brothers and sisters by blood and destiny. What happens in Niger touches the soul of the original inhabitants of Abuja,” David said.

The coalition commiserated with the families of the victims, the people and government of Niger State, which declared three days of mourning over the tragedy.

It also demanded that the federal government make the findings and recommendations of the investigative panel public.

“Let this investigation not end with another file gathering dust in an office. Let the Nigerian people see the report. Let the families know the truth. And where wrongdoing is established, let the perpetrators be prosecuted.

“The country must demonstrate that government custody is not a place where human rights disappear. The lives of these 37 Nigerians must matter. Their families must matter. And justice must not be negotiated,” he said.

The organisation pledged continued solidarity with the people of Niger State in mourning and in their demand for accountability.

“We mourn with you. We stand with you. We demand justice with you,” it declared, while praying for the repose of the deceased and strength for their families.