The Islamic Education Trust (IET) has called for calm, justice and an independent investigation into the deaths of 37 people who reportedly died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
The organisation, in a statement issued on Saturday by its General Secretary, Muhammad Nuruddeen Lemu, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and urged authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ensure accountability for any violation of the rights and dignity of the detainees.
According to IET, 67 people were detained during operations against suspected artisanal and illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi–Lokoto axis on September 15 and 16, while 37 of those detained were subsequently found dead in custody on September 17.
It noted that Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, had said many of those detained were between 14 and 18 years old, adding that the exact cause of the deaths remained under investigation.
The incident was followed by protests and unrest in parts of Minna, involving gunfire, arson and looting, which led to the imposition of a curfew in the state capital.
IET condemned the loss of lives in government custody, while also rejecting unlawful or excessive use of force against protesters, destruction of public and private property, misinformation, inflammatory narratives and the profiling or stigmatisation of communities or groups.
The organisation commended the Niger State Government, Federal Government, Minister of Interior and President for steps taken in response to the incident, while acknowledging security personnel, community leaders and residents who it said acted with restraint and helped prevent further escalation.
“Whatever allegation is made against a person, once they are in a cell or in government custody, their life and dignity become a trust held by the State on behalf of us all. Calm without justice is only a pause,” Lemu said.
IET called for an independent, transparent and time-bound investigation into both the deaths in custody and the conduct of security personnel during the subsequent protests, with the findings made public.
It also demanded condolence visits to the bereaved families by relevant government officials, traditional leaders, security chiefs and religious leaders, as well as a fair and transparent compensation framework developed in consultation with affected families.
The organisation further called for inquiry panels that would include women, young people and representatives of affected communities, proper identification and documentation of all those who died or were detained, and comprehensive medical and forensic investigations to establish the circumstances and causes of the deaths.
It urged authorities to develop a concrete and sustainable plan to remove children from hazardous mining activities and provide them with access to formal education, Islamic education and vocational training.
“This is the worst violence in Minna’s history, and it is a test for us all. We will prove our humanity by how we treat the weakest among us,” the IET Director-General, Alhaji Arzika Abubakar Rimau, said.
The organisation said it was prepared to deploy its mediators, counsellors, imams, and women’s and youth networks to support dialogue, condolence visits and care for bereaved families, drawing on its peacebuilding and community-development activities in Minna dating back to 1976.
IET also urged residents of Minna and Niger State to remain calm, reject rumours and inflammatory messages, protect one another and allow relevant authorities to conduct their investigations.
It stressed that lasting peace, however, must be founded on truth, justice, accountability and respect for the dignity of every human being.
