The National Civil Society Council of Nigeria in a World Press Conference on Wednesday reacted to the Official Report of the Federal Government Panel set up to look into the issues surrounding the death of 37 suspected illegal miners in Minna, capital of Niger State, who died while in a detention facility belonging to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps -NSCDC.
Speaking to the Panel’s Report, the Executive Director of the Council, ,Comr. Blessing Akinlosotu, said the Civil Society super structure had been patiently awaiting the Report since the Panel was constituted on September 19 following a directive by President Bola Tinubu for a “full and transparent” investigation into the deaths of the suspected illegal miners.
Blessing Akinlosotu, commending the diligence of the Committee, went on to assert that while the Civil Society actors remained skeptical about some strange facts surrounding this unfortunate incidence, however, one clear and major take away from the Report as presented by the 10-man Independent Committee having Jonathan Kure as Chairman, is that the condition of the facility was both deplorable, unhealthy, and overcrowded, giving no room for proper breathing, leading to sophocation of detenees.
The Executive Director outrightly condemned the actions of the NSCDC Officers involved, applauding the suspension of 21 officers in connection with the incident, demanding stiffer sanctions on the State Commands.
The Civil Society further issued an advisory to FG to immediately look into what it prefered to as “deadly conditions of detention facilities across Security Agencies” pin pointing Police cells as the worst in the lot.
Akinlosotu posited that the matter was not limited to the NSCDC and most not be politicized or used as weapons of witch-hunt against the Commandant General of the Civil Defense, who he said cannot be “everywhere at the same time”.
“We can attest to the professionalism and competence of the CG of NSCDC and his passion to ensure that the Corps upheld spirit of Patriotism and Service to Humanity” Akinlosotu affirmed
“The incident in Minna is condemnable in every sense of the word and those directly responsible must face the consequences. However, we must avoid passing blanket judgements and generalizing positions on sensitive matters of this nature”. He continued.
“If a Police Commissioner in a State or Governor fails in responsibility, the Inspector General of Police or President of the Country cannot be made to bear consequences, but rather persuaded to mete out appropriate measures to their sorbordinate and erring Officers or Officials”. He concluded.
The Civil Society Council state that among all the detention facilities in Nigeria, only that of the EFCC can be consider above average mark, and called on the FG to make good budgetary provisions for upgrade of detention facilities and to decourage undue and unjust detention of Citizens
