CISLAC CONDEMNS DEATHS OF 37 SUSPECTS IN NSCDC CUSTODY; DEMANDS INDEPENDENT PROBE

CISLAC CONDEMNS DEATHS OF 37 SUSPECTS IN NSCDC CUSTODY; DEMANDS INDEPENDENT PROBE

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has condemned the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, demanding an independent and transparent investigation into the incident.

In a statement by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and stressed that allegations of illegal mining cannot justify conditions that endanger the lives or dignity of people in state custody.

CISLAC acknowledged measures taken by the federal government for a full probe into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The organisation futher urged the government to provide appropriate compensation, psychosocial support and other forms of redress to the families of the deceased and survivors. It called for the review modes of handling artisanal miners and the enforcement of mining regulations to address illegal mining.