Group makes case for NSCDC over Niger incident, tasks Tinubu on governance

Nigerians have been cautioned against a blanket condemnation of the entire Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the vilification of it’s Commandant General, Professor, Audi Mohammed, over the unfortunate death of alleged illegal miners in it’s Minna custody recently.

The call was made in Lagos on Friday at a joint media parly, addressed by the Executive Director,Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV)Comrade Gbenga Soloki and President, Media for Equity and Good Governance, Rev’d Femi Adepoju respectively, as they insist that
“no public official should be above investigation, but neither should any individual be condemned without evidence and due process”.

Congratulating Nigeria President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians on the 66th Independence Anniversary of the country, the conveners tasked him on the challenge ahead, acknowledging the economic reforms being pursued by the administration of President Tinubu, including measures aimed at achieving greater economic and foreign-exchange stability.

“At the same time, we recognise that many Nigerians continue to experience economic hardship and increasing pressure on household incomes. We therefore urge the Federal Government to continue to pursue policies capable of translating improvements in national economic indicators into tangible improvements in the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians,” they said.

While registering their sympathy with the families those affected in the Minna, Niger State incident, the groups called for serious caution in handling the unfortunate incident in regard to the determination and punishment for the occurrence.

“We have observed calls in some quarters seeking to hold the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, personally responsible for the Niger State incident.

“Our position is that responsibility—whether individual, supervisory or institutional—must be established through credible evidence and a transparent investigation rather than speculation, political considerations or public emotion.

“The NSCDC is a nationwide institution with established levels of command and operational responsibility, including State Commandants, Zonal Commanders and other senior officers responsible for different formations.

“While the Commandant-General bears overall responsibility for the strategic leadership of the Corps, no head of a nationwide security organisation can personally supervise every officer and every operation across the federation simultaneously” the groups posited, adding that “this does not remove institutional responsibility. Rather, it makes it even more important for the investigation to determine what happened, who was directly responsible, whether established procedures were followed, and whether there were failures of supervision at any level.

“Where wrongdoing, negligence or criminal conduct is established, those responsible should be held accountable in accordance with the law,” they stated

It was also canvassed at the parley that “the present controversy should be considered alongside the broader record of the NSCDC under Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, without allowing that broader record to prejudge the investigation into this particular incident.

“Since assuming leadership of the Corps, his administration has pursued initiatives aimed at strengthening operational capacity, personnel training, intelligence gathering, protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, regulation of private security companies, and the protection of schools and vulnerable communities,” the groups said.

Public officials, the groups also admonished, should be assessed on their documented actions, institutional outcomes and adherence to the responsibilities of their offices—not on ethnic, religious or regional considerations.

Nigeria, they claimed, requires security institutions in which professionalism, discipline and national service transcend ethnicity, religion and geographical origin.

Insisting that any incident involving loss of life or allegations of serious wrongdoing within a security institution deserves a thorough, transparent and credible investigation, the conveners maintained that accountability remains fundamental to maintaining public confidence in security institutions.

They however said that accountability must equally be founded upon facts, evidence and due process.

“In an effort to demonstrate transparency and assure Nigerians that those connected with the incident were available for investigation, the NSCDC publicly presented the officers allegedly involved in the incident before members of the press.

“We believe that the investigation must now be allowed to establish precisely what happened, the respective roles of those involved, whether established procedures were followed, and whether there were failures of supervision or command at any level.

“Rather than crucifying the entire institution on the basis of the actions allegedly committed by particular officers, we believe this unfortunate incident should also provide an opportunity to examine how the NSCDC can be strengthened,” they stated.

In ensuring a better positioned NSCDC, the groups advocated increased government funding for the Corps, improved operational logistics, appropriate equipment and additional manpower.

This, they maintained, has become particularly important following the expansion of the Corps’ responsibilities, including its new assignment relating to VIP protection.

“At the same time, greater resources must go hand in hand with greater accountability, professionalism and respect for the fundamental rights of Nigerians,” the groups echoed.

They noted that during a recent interaction with His Imperial Majesty, Arole Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, matters concerning the leadership and activities of the NSCDC were discussed.

“His Imperial Majesty expressed views concerning Professor Audi’s leadership and indicated his willingness to be contacted to restate those views directly.

“We believe this is important because Nigerians should be able to hear directly from respected traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders who have had opportunities to observe or interact with the institution and its leadership.

“We equally recognise that views expressed by traditional rulers, community leaders or other stakeholders constitute their own assessments and should be considered alongside the findings of an independent investigation and other verifiable evidence,” they said.

Positing that human rights and justice must apply to everyone, the groups said that the victims of any established misconduct deserve justice, their families deserve answers and Nigerians deserve transparency.

“We therefore call for a credible, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the Niger State incident.

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