CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS DEMAND EVIDENCE BASED INVESTIGATION OF DEATHS IN NIGER STATE NSCDC CUSTODY
..... Investigation must be thorough, professional, credible and not a witch hunt
JOINT ADDRESS BY THE CENTRE AGAINST INJUSTICE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (CAIDOV) AND MEDIA FOR EQUITY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE TODAY FRIDAY 2ND OCTOBER 2026@ EXCELLENCE HOTEL ,OGBA IKEJA
It gives us great pleasure to stand before you today, 2 October 2026, on behalf of the Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV), under the leadership of Comrade Gbenga Soloki, and Media For Equity and Good Governance under the leadership of Reverend Femi Adepoju.
As organisations committed to justice, human dignity, responsible journalism and the development of our nation, we consider this an appropriate moment to reflect on some of the important issues confronting Nigeria, particularly human rights, security, education and the economy.
Our nation has just commemorated another anniversary of Nigeria's independence. Such an occasion provides an opportunity not only to celebrate our sovereignty but also to assess our progress, acknowledge areas where improvements have been made and identify challenges requiring urgent attention.
We acknowledge the economic reforms being pursued by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including measures aimed at achieving greater economic and foreign-exchange stability.
At the same time, we recognise that many Nigerians continue to experience economic hardship and increasing pressure on household incomes. We therefore urge the Federal Government to continue pursuing policies capable of translating improvements in national economic indicators into tangible improvements in the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians.
THE SECURITY SITUATION AND THE NSCDC
We wish to address recent developments concerning the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), particularly the unfortunate incident in Niger State.
First and foremost, we sympathise with the families of those affected by this tragic incident. We equally identify with the government and people of Niger State, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the leadership and personnel of the NSCDC during this difficult period.
Any incident involving loss of life or allegations of serious wrongdoing within a security institution deserves a thorough, transparent and credible investigation.
Accountability remains fundamental to maintaining public confidence in our security institutions.
However, accountability must equally be founded upon facts, evidence and due process.
In an effort to demonstrate transparency and assure Nigerians that those connected with the incident were available for investigation, the NSCDC publicly presented the officers allegedly involved in the incident before members of the press.
We believe that the investigation must now be allowed to establish precisely what happened, the respective roles of those involved, whether established procedures were followed, and whether there were failures of supervision or command at any level.
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.
We therefore advocate increased government funding for the Corps, improved operational logistics, appropriate equipment and additional manpower.
This has become particularly 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.
THE LEADERSHIP OF PROFESSOR AHMED ABUBAKAR AUDI
We have observed calls in some quarters seeking to hold the Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, personally responsible for the Niger State incident.
Our position is that 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.
This does not remove institutional responsibility. Rather, it makes it even more important for the investigation to determine what happened, who was directly responsible, whether established procedures were followed, and whether there were failures of supervision at any level.
Where wrongdoing, negligence or criminal conduct is established, those responsible should be held accountable in accordance with the law.
We also believe that the present controversy should be considered alongside the broader record of the NSCDC under Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, without allowing that broader record to prejudge the investigation into this particular incident.
Since assuming leadership of the Corps, his administration has pursued initiatives aimed at strengthening operational capacity, personnel training, intelligence gathering, protection of critical national assets and infrastructure, regulation of private security companies, and the protection of schools and vulnerable communities.
Public officials should be assessed on their documented actions, institutional outcomes and adherence to the responsibilities of their offices—not on ethnic, religious or regional considerations.
Nigeria requires security institutions in which professionalism, discipline and national service transcend ethnicity, religion and geographical origin.
ACCOUNTABILITY MUST NOT BECOME A POLITICAL WEAPON
Our position is straightforward:
No public official should be above investigation, but neither should any individual be condemned without evidence and due process.
Human rights and justice must apply to everyone.
The victims of any established misconduct deserve justice.
Their families deserve answers.
Nigerians deserve transparency.
At the same time, officers and officials accused of wrongdoing are entitled to due process and a fair determination of responsibility.
We therefore call for a credible, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the Niger State incident.
The findings should, to the extent permitted by law, be made available to the public, and 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.
OUR MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS
As civil-society and media organisations, we will continue to speak against injustice, domestic violence, abuse of power and violations of fundamental human rights, irrespective of the status, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation or geographical origin of those involved.
We equally recognise our responsibility not to pronounce individuals guilty before investigations have established the facts.
Nigeria belongs to all of us.
Our security institutions belong to the Nigerian people.
The media must remain responsible, independent and courageous.
Civil-society organisations must remain vigilant.
Public institutions must remain accountable to the people.
And justice must remain impartial.
As our nation moves forward following another Independence Anniversary, we call upon the Federal Government, state governments, security agencies, civil society, the media and every Nigerian to work collectively towards building a country where security is strengthened, justice is respected, human dignity is protected and economic progress reaches ordinary citizens.
The victims and their families deserve justice and answers.
The officers concerned deserve a fair investigation.
The institution deserves an evidence-based assessment.
And Nigerians deserve the truth.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Thank you.
Comrade Gbenga Soloki
Executive Director,
Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV)
Reverend Femi Adepoju
President ,
Media for Equity and Good Governance
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