The Blue Resolution Initiative, TBRi, has rejected the Committee of Inquiry constituted by the Niger State Government to investigate the deaths of 37 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

The organisation, in a statement signed by its President, Muhammad Alfa Muhammad, said the composition of the committee does not provide the level of independence required to investigate the incident and establish public confidence.

TBRi expressed concern that the committee is chaired by the Deputy Governor of Niger State and includes serving government and security officials.

According to the organisation, the concern is not about the personal integrity of the members, but the institutional structure of the committee.

It said an investigation into deaths in custody should be conducted by persons sufficiently independent of the political and security institutions connected to the circumstances surrounding the incident.

TBRi therefore called on the Niger State Government to withdraw the existing arrangement and constitute a new independent panel comprising judicial officers, forensic and medical experts, human-rights practitioners and credible civil-society representatives.

The organisation also called for the meaningful participation of families of the deceased and communities affected by the incident.

It urged the authorities to provide families and surviving detainees with a safe platform to present evidence and testify without fear of intimidation or institutional pressure.

TBRi said it was not prejudging the cause of the deaths or assigning blame to any individual or institution, stressing that its demand was for an independent investigation capable of establishing the facts.

The organisation said it would continue to monitor the process and pursue lawful avenues to ensure accountability over the deaths.

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