FG Inaugurates Panel to Investigate 37 Deaths in NSCDC Custody
By Naijagossiper Official ยท
Photo Credit: Ministry of Interior/X
The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member independent investigative committee to examine the reported deaths of 37 people who were being held in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The committee was inaugurated in Abuja by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for an investigation into the incident.
Speaking during the inauguration, the minister charged members of the committee to carry out their assignment independently and without interference, saying that establishing the truth about what happened is a responsibility owed to the deceased and their families.
The committee is expected to establish the identities of the 37 deceased and examine the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention.
It will also investigate the cause and manner of death through appropriate medical and forensic examinations and determine whether negligence, misconduct, complicity or breaches of duty occurred.
Where responsibility is established, the panel is expected to recommend appropriate disciplinary measures and compensation where applicable. It will also make recommendations aimed at preventing a similar incident from occurring in the future.
Tunji Ojo directed the NSCDC leadership and officers connected to the matter to cooperate fully with the investigation and ensure that relevant records and other evidence are preserved.
He also warned against any attempt to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or interfere with the committee's work.
The minister said the investigation would not shield any officer found responsible, regardless of the person's position.
The committee is chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, and is expected to begin work immediately.
It has been given two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report to the Minister of Interior.
What the Investigation Could Establish
The panel's work could provide answers to several unresolved questions surrounding the deaths, including what happened inside the detention facility, whether proper detention procedures were followed and the precise medical and forensic cause of death.
The investigation is particularly significant because earlier accounts surrounding the incident raised questions about conditions in the facility, including allegations of overcrowding and breathing difficulties.
Until the independent investigation and medical examinations are completed, the final cause and circumstances of the deaths should not be treated as conclusively established.
For the families of those who died, the committee's findings could provide an official account of what happened and determine whether individuals or institutions should be held responsible.