NSCDC Custody Deaths: Nigeria Must Restore Dignity to Human Lives – Obi

The death of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, has raised concerns over the treatment of suspects in government detention facilities.
Reacting to the incident, the Nigeria democratic congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi called for urgent answers, stressing that the deceased were human beings who deserved protection, humane treatment and the opportunity to face due process, regardless of the offences they were suspected of committing.
In a statement, PO described the deaths as a deeply troubling tragedy, demanding a transparent, independent and credible investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The statement noted that reports of disease, overcrowding and inadequate ventilation had emerged as possible factors, but stressed that the actual cause of the deaths must be established through a thorough investigation.
“Security is not merely about arresting people. Security is about protecting lives, upholding the dignity of every citizen, and ensuring that the institutions entrusted with our safety operate within the law,” Obi said
Obi further maintained that Nigeria could not claim to value human life if people entered government custody alive and died without immediate, transparent and credible accountability.