Nigerian social commentator, D English Alhaji, has raised concerns over the death of a man identified as Emmanuel among 37 detainees who allegedly died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
In a statement shared publicly, Alhaji alleged that Emmanuel was not among the persons accused of illegal mining, but was detained following a dispute with his employer over an alleged account reconciliation issue.
According to him, Emmanuel had reportedly been in detention since Friday of the previous week until Thursday, September 17, 2026, after his employer allegedly took him to the detention facility.
Alhaji further claimed that Emmanuel’s father visited his son’s employer to plead for his release, but the request was allegedly rejected.
He alleged that Emmanuel was subsequently kept in the same cell with people arrested over alleged illegal mining activities, describing the facility as a small, poorly ventilated space.
The commentator expressed concern over the reported conditions of the detention facility, questioning how detainees could survive in what he described as an overcrowded environment.
He used the incident to call for Nigerians to put aside ethnic and religious divisions and work collectively towards addressing challenges affecting the country.
The circumstances surrounding Emmanuel’s death, as well as the reported deaths of the other detainees, remain subject to official investigation and clarification from the relevant authorities.
