Niger deaths: Peace institute demands independent investigation, fair hearing before sanctions

The World Institute for Peace (WIP) has urged the Federal Government to exercise caution before implementing recommendations to dismiss security officers allegedly connected to the deaths of suspected illegal miners who died in NSCDC custody in Niger State on September 17, 2026.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its Executive Director, Comrade Lamina Omotoyosi, the group posited that individual culpability must be established through credible evidence, impartial investigation, and strict adherence to due process.

While extending heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, WIP called for justice, accountability, and institutional reforms to prevent a recurrence.

According to the group, the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including reported overcrowding, poor ventilation, dehydration, and alleged failures in custodial care, require thorough scrutiny.

The organization maintained that investigators must properly distinguish between deliberate misconduct, criminal negligence, dereliction of duty, supervisory failures, and broader institutional shortcomings.

“WIP does not seek to shield any officer found culpable. However, disciplinary measures must be proportionate to each individual’s established responsibility. No officer should be punished solely because they were on duty or served in the same command,” Omotoyosi stated.

To ensure transparency, WIP called for a fresh, independent investigation by a credible panel comprising representatives from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), civil society organisations, human rights advocates, respected traditional and religious leaders, as well as qualified legal and forensic experts.

The group emphasized that the team should operate independently and free from conflicts of interest, examining new evidence alongside the findings of previous panels.

“The investigation should establish the causes of death, detention conditions, individual responsibilities, the chain of command, emergency response, and any allegations of misconduct or concealment. Its findings should guide appropriate administrative or legal action,” Omotoyosi added.

WIP also urged the government to support the bereaved families, provide compensation where legally justified, strengthen custodial facilities, improve emergency medical responses, and strictly enforce human rights standards across all detention centers.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Minister of Interior, and relevant authorities to ensure that justice is served without sacrificing fairness. Those found responsible must face appropriate consequences, while officers against whom allegations remain unproven must be afforded a fair hearing.

“Justice must protect the victims, uphold the rights of the accused, and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions. Nobody should be above the law, and nobody should be condemned without sufficient evidence,” the group concluded.

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