The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG) and National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, Mob Actions and Impunity (NCAMKI) have called for independent investigations into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

SERAP has petitioned four United Nations Special Rapporteurs to urgently intervene over the deaths and reported use of force against protesters in Minna, while GAFAMORG and NCAMKI urged investigators to examine not only how the detainees died but whether failures in custody safeguards contributed to the tragedy.

The 37 detainees were among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested by the NSCDC during operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026. They were detained in Minna and found dead on September 17.

The circumstances surrounding their deaths have not been conclusively established. The NSCDC initially referred to a suspected disease outbreak, while its national headquarters said the cause of death remained subject to medical and laboratory examinations. The bodies were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for examination and autopsy.

The deaths triggered protests in Minna on September 18, with security forces deployed to contain the unrest. Reports indicated clashes between protesters and security personnel, amid allegations that live ammunition was used. The precise circumstances and scale of any injuries or deaths during the protests remain under investigation.

In an urgent appeal dated September 18, SERAP urged the UN Special Rapporteurs on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; freedom of peaceful assembly and association; freedom of opinion and expression; and the situation of human rights defenders to seek answers from Nigerian authorities.

“Thirty-seven people went into NSCDC custody. They came out dead. Nigerians deserve to know what happened,” SERAP said.

The organisation called for an independent, impartial, prompt, thorough and transparent investigation to establish the identities of the deceased, circumstances and causes of their deaths, detention conditions, medical attention provided and responsibility of individual officers and commanders.

SERAP also urged the UN experts to investigate the reported use of force against protesters, stressing: “The answer to deaths in custody cannot be more deaths on the streets.”

It called for preservation of physical, documentary, digital, medical and forensic evidence, protection of families, witnesses, journalists and human rights defenders, and accountability where security personnel are found to have unlawfully killed people or used excessive force.

The appeal comes as Nigerian authorities have announced separate investigations. Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago confirmed the deaths and constituted a committee of inquiry. He also said the NSCDC state commandant and his team had been suspended to facilitate the investigation.

The NSCDC has constituted a high-powered investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the detainees’ condition when arrested, detention conditions and medical care. Police authorities in Niger State have also commenced investigations.

Meanwhile, GAFAMORG and NCAMKI said the probe must examine the entire chain of events, including the legality of arrests, identities and ages of detainees, detention capacity, sanitation, ventilation, food, water, medical care, possible exposure to hazardous substances or disease, custody records, supervision and transfers.

They specifically called for scrutiny of compliance with the Niger State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2022, particularly statutory reporting and judicial oversight of detainees.

“A law that is not enforced is not an effective safeguard,” the groups said, adding that institutions exercising arrest and detention powers should not escape accountability.

GAFAMORG and NCAMKI said they would seek official records, monitor the investigations, engage relevant justice, police, NSCDC and human rights authorities, and press for proper forensic investigation and preservation of evidence.

They stressed that their intervention was not intended to replace the criminal investigation but to ensure that institutional responsibility and safeguards that should have prevented avoidable deaths were also examined.

“As Gani Fawehinmi’s legacy teaches, no citizen becomes rightless because he or she has been arrested, and no institution should be beyond accountability under the law,” they said.

The submission to the UN Special Procedures was acknowledged by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on September 18. The office said the mandate holders would review the submission and decide whether to take action.