APM Demands Probe of Death of 37 Nigerians in NSCDC Custody

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Allied Peoples’ Movement, APM, has demanded for an expeditious, open, transparent and unrestricted probe into the death of 37 Nigerians in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

The APM described the circumstances surrounding the death of the suspects in the APC-controlled agency and the use of ammunition on protesters as horrible.

The party said this in a statement on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Abubakar in Abuja.

According to the statement, “The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) is disturbed by the death of 37 Nigerians in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

“The Party also condemns the reported use of ammunition and tear gas by security agencies against unarmed citizens protesting the death of the 37 persons, noting that such could lead to more fatalities.

“The avoidable death of these citizens who were reportedly detained in very inhuman conditions in a government facility is yet another sad episode which further spotlights the level of inconsequentiality the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration attaches to human lives.

“The claims by the authorities that the victims were alleged illegal miners and that they died as a result of suspected outbreak of disease in the cell does not justify the mortalities. It only validates reports of inhuman conditions under which they were detained for over two days.

“It is unimaginable that sixty-six persons were cramped into a cell where 37 of them died of excessive heat and after being reportedly sprayed  with a yet to be identified substance.

“Indeed, this is not the Nigeria we dream of.  While thousands of our citizens who fell victims of terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers suffer brutality in the hands of their captors, it is unthinkable that Nigerians could be subjected to such acts of dehumanization by an agency of the APC-led Federal Government.

“This is why our nation needs a reset. The lives of citizens must be treated with dignity as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The death of citizens in detention facilities cannot be justified under any guise.

“The APM therefore demands for an expeditious, open, transparent and unrestricted probe into this horrible incident, particularly the circumstances surrounding the death of the suspects in the APC-controlled agency and the use of ammunition on protesters.

“While sympathizing with the families of the victims and the people of Niger state, the APM urges Nigerians to remain calm as we await the outcome of the probe”, the statement concluded.

END