ABUJA, September 20, 2026 — Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France) has called for an independent and impartial investigation into the deaths of 37 persons detained at a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) facility in Minna, Niger State.
The organisation expressed grave concern over reports of severe overcrowding, inadequate ventilation and delayed access to emergency assistance before the detainees died.
According to ASF France, several of those who died were reportedly between 14 and 18 years old, while survivors described a desperate struggle for air inside an overcrowded cell and repeated calls for help as detainees began collapsing.
Although the NSCDC has attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, ASF France said the precise circumstances and causes of the deaths remain to be established.
The Federal Government has already announced an investigation and suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant pending the outcome.
ASF France stressed that the deaths raise questions beyond their immediate medical causes, particularly regarding whether authorities took reasonable measures to protect detainees and respond promptly to signs of distress.
The organisation said any investigation must examine possible individual, institutional and systemic failures, including detention conditions, overcrowding, ventilation, access to water and medical care, monitoring, emergency response and the conduct of officials within the chain of command.
It also cited Rule 71 of the United Nations Nelson Mandela Rules, which requires custodial deaths to be reported to an authority independent of prison administration and subjected to a prompt, impartial and effective investigation.
The organisation further referenced the Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death (2016), which calls for independent and thorough investigations capable of determining whether failures by State authorities contributed to deaths.
«“When people die in State custody, the State has a heightened responsibility to establish what happened and why,” ASF France said.»
The organisation added that the investigation should go beyond determining the immediate medical cause of death and establish whether failures by individuals, institutions or the wider system contributed to the loss of life.
ASF France’s Demands
ASF France called on Nigerian authorities to:
– Ensure an independent investigation free from the influence of anyone potentially implicated;
– Examine individual, institutional and chain-of-command responsibility;
– Investigate possible failures to provide safe detention conditions and timely emergency assistance;
– Immediately preserve custody and medical records, CCTV footage and relevant communications;
– Conduct independent forensic examinations and autopsies;
– Protect surviving detainees and witnesses from intimidation or retaliation;
– Keep the families of the deceased informed and provide them appropriate access to the investigation; and
– Ensure accountability, effective remedies and measures to prevent a recurrence if violations are established.
ASF France reiterated that every person deprived of liberty is entitled to humane treatment and protection of their life and dignity.
The organisation said it would continue to monitor the case while urging Nigerian authorities to ensure transparency, accountability and justice for the deceased, their families and surviving detainees.
Signed:
Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu
Country Director
Avocats Sans Frontières France
For enquiries: office.nigeria@avocatssansfrontieres-france.org
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