Nigeria at 66: Groups Urge Caution in Calls for NSCDC Commandant-General’s Sanction Over Niger Incident

 

Oluwaseyi Fadoro 

Two civil society groups have urged Nigerians to avoid condemning the entire Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) or vilifying its Commandant-General, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, over the recent death of alleged illegal miners in the Corps’ custody in Minna, Niger State.

The groups, the Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) and Media for Equity and Good Governance, made the call in Lagos on Friday at a joint media parley addressed by the Executive Director of CAIDOV, Comrade Gbenga Soloki, and the President of Media for Equity and Good Governance, Rev. Femi Adepoju.

They stressed that while no public official should be above investigation, nobody should be condemned without credible evidence and due process.

The groups also congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians on the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary, acknowledging the economic reforms being pursued by the Federal Government, including measures aimed at improving economic and foreign-exchange stability.

They, however, noted that many Nigerians continue to face economic hardship and increasing pressure on household incomes.

“We therefore urge the Federal Government to continue to pursue policies capable of translating improvements in national economic indicators into tangible improvements in the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians,” they said.

On the Niger State incident, the groups expressed sympathy to the families affected and called for caution in determining responsibility and appropriate sanctions.

They said they had observed calls in some quarters seeking to hold the NSCDC Commandant-General personally responsible for the incident.

According to them, responsibility—whether individual, supervisory or institutional—must be established through credible evidence and a transparent investigation rather than speculation, political considerations or public emotion.

“The NSCDC is a nationwide institution with established levels of command and operational responsibility, including State Commandants, Zonal Commanders and other senior officers responsible for different formations.

“While the Commandant-General bears overall responsibility for the strategic leadership of the Corps, no head of a nationwide security organisation can personally supervise every officer and every operation across the federation simultaneously,” they said.

The groups, however, acknowledged that the incident raises questions of institutional responsibility, stressing that investigators must determine what happened, who was directly responsible, whether established procedures were followed and whether there were failures of supervision at any level.

They maintained that where wrongdoing, negligence or criminal conduct is established, those responsible should be held accountable in accordance with the law.

The organisations also urged Nigerians to consider the Niger incident alongside the broader record of the NSCDC under Professor Audi, without allowing his past record to prejudge the outcome of the investigation.

They said his administration had pursued initiatives aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the Corps, personnel training, intelligence gathering, protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, regulation of private security companies, as well as the protection of schools and vulnerable communities.

The groups further cautioned against assessing public officials on the basis of ethnic, religious or regional considerations.

They said public officials should instead be assessed on their documented actions, institutional outcomes and adherence to the responsibilities of their offices.

“Nigeria requires security institutions in which professionalism, discipline and national service transcend ethnicity, religion and geographical origin,” they stated.

They called for a thorough, transparent and credible investigation into every aspect of the Niger incident, stressing that accountability was essential to maintaining public confidence in the nation’s security institutions.

According to them, the NSCDC’s public presentation of officers allegedly involved in the incident before members of the press was an indication that those connected with the matter were available for investigation.

They said the investigation should now establish the precise circumstances surrounding the incident, the respective roles of those involved, whether established procedures were followed and whether there were failures of supervision or command.

“Rather than crucifying the entire institution on the basis of the actions allegedly committed by particular officers, we believe this unfortunate incident should also provide an opportunity to examine how the NSCDC can be strengthened,” they said.

Groups Seek More Funding for NSCDC

The organisations also called on the Federal Government to increase funding for the NSCDC, improve its operational logistics, provide appropriate equipment and recruit additional personnel.

They said the need for greater resources had become more important following the expansion of the Corps’ responsibilities, including its new assignment relating to VIP protection.

“Additional responsibilities should be accompanied by the resources, personnel, training and logistics necessary for the NSCDC to discharge them effectively and professionally.

“At the same time, greater resources must go hand in hand with greater accountability, professionalism and respect for the fundamental rights of Nigerians,” they said.

The groups also disclosed that issues concerning the leadership and activities of the NSCDC were discussed during a recent interaction with His Imperial Majesty, Arole Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife.

They said the monarch expressed views concerning Professor Audi’s leadership and indicated his willingness to be contacted to restate those views directly.

The organisations said they preferred that the Ooni communicate his position in his own words to avoid misrepresentation or misunderstanding.

They added that views expressed by traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders should be considered alongside the findings of an independent investigation and other verifiable evidence.

The groups reiterated that human rights and justice must apply to everyone, saying victims of established misconduct deserved justice, while their families deserved answers and Nigerians deserved transparency.

“At the same time, officers and officials accused of wrongdoing are entitled to due process and a fair determination of responsibility,” they said.

They therefore called for a comprehensive investigation into the Niger State incident and urged that its findings, to the extent permitted by law, be made available to the public.

They further demanded that anyone found responsible for misconduct, negligence or criminal wrongdoing should face appropriate consequences in accordance with the law.

“Such accountability will strengthen, rather than weaken, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and public confidence in Nigeria’s security institutions,” the groups concluded.