The Country Director, Amnesty International, Isah Sanusi, has described the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State as an indication of what he called a “reckless disregard for due process and international standards”, insisting that the incident reflects impunity rather than lack of awareness.
Speaking with ARISE NEWS in an interview on Friday, Sanusi, who noted that this was not the first time such incidents had occurred, recalled the deaths of detainees, including minors, at Giwa Barracks detention centre in Maiduguri during the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency around 2014.
He said the recurring incidents should not be attributed to a lack of awareness, arguing that law enforcement agencies are expected to understand and comply with established procedures, guidelines and international human rights standards.
“Nigeria is a signatory to these instruments. Being a signatory means when you have law enforcement, they have to be taken through these processes and know these procedures, guidelines, and international standards.
“It is a matter of impunity. This is not the first time these kinds of things are happening. Some years ago, around 2014, at the peak of the Boko Haram situation, we had a detention center in Maiduguri called Giwa Barracks, where every day detainees, including minors, were dying every day.
“So this is not something new, and I don’t think we should attribute it to a lack of awareness. It is pure impunity.”
Sanusi also faulted the description of the deceased as “suspected illegal miners”, arguing that they should instead be referred to as “artisana miners” because they were not alive to defend themselves against what he described as a prejudicial and denigrating label.
“First of all, let me start by saying that I have a problem with calling them ‘suspected illegal miners.’ I believe it is better to call them ‘artisanal miners.’ It is prejudicial and denigrating because they are not around to defend themselves.”
Speaking on the condition of the detention facility in Minna, Niger State, Sanusi said Amnesty International’s investigation found that 67 detainees were held in a cell meant to accommodate no more than 10 people, describing the overcrowding as a serious human rights concern.
“Another important issue based on the investigation we have done so far: we heard that the cell where they were held was supposed to hold no more than 10 people, but 67 of them were held in there. Between Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th, Minna was extraordinarily hot. These are human rights issues that we have to talk about. Why would somebody put 67 people in a place meant for no more than 10 people? This is one of the things that the investigation has to look at.”
Addressing the concerns of the families of the deceased, Sanusi said they must be supported to access justice and fully involved in the investigation, stressing that they are entitled to effective remedies, including support and counselling, rather than mere condolence visits or material assistance.
“Now, regarding the families: one of the important things the families are entitled to is support to get access to justice. Second, they have to be involved.
“They need effective remedies. Remedies suppose support, counseling, and many things because they are going through hell right now.”
Urging the state government and security agencies to ensure accountability, Sanusi called for a thorough, independent and fully resourced investigation into the deaths, warning that the matter should not end with internal administrative sanctions.
“This is part of the accountability, and that is why it is very important for the Government of Nigeria, the Niger State Government, and the security agencies to make sure that this does not end in internal administrative sanctions. It has to be a thorough, independent, and resourceful investigation.”
He stressed that the investigation must be equipped with adequate materials, resources and expertise to establish the truth and prevent a recurrence of what he described as a tragic incident.
“That was why Amnesty International said this investigation has to be different: fully resourced with materials, equipment, and expertise to unravel the truth. Otherwise, we are going to find ourselves in this tragedy again.”
Favour Odima
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