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Federal Government investigative panel attributes the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners to environmental asphyxia caused by overcrowding, heat stress, and dehydration.
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Committee recommends the dismissal and prosecution of officers implicated in the incident.
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Investigation finds that the operation leading to the arrests was conducted without an operational order or approval from NSCDC National Headquarters.
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President Bola Tinubu had ordered an investigation into the September 17 deaths, while the Niger State NSCDC commandant and 20 other officers were suspended pending the probe.
October 27, (THEWILL) – A Federal Government investigative committee has attributed the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State to suffocation caused by overcrowding, heat stress and dehydration, recommending the dismissal and prosecution of officers implicated in the incident.
Chairman of the committee and former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Jonathan Kure, disclosed the findings on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
Kure said the investigation established that the detainees died from environmental asphyxia, aggravated by heat stress and dehydration.
According to the committee’s report, the deaths resulted from overcrowding, unsuitable detention conditions, failure of duty of care and inadequate supervision.
The report stated that the fatalities resulted from prolonged confinement in a severely overcrowded cell, with heat stress and dehydration worsening the conditions.
The committee also found that the operation leading to the arrest of the suspects was conducted without an operational order or approval from the NSCDC National Headquarters.
The 37 detainees died on September 17, 2026, while being held at the NSCDC Niger State Command in Minna. They were among those arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state.
Following the incident, the Federal Government suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, and 20 other officers pending the outcome of the investigation.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently ordered an inquiry into the deaths, directing that officers found responsible should face appropriate sanctions.
Tinubu also stated that the suspension of officers should not replace criminal prosecution where evidence of wrongdoing was established.
The Minister of Interior inaugurated the 10-member independent investigative committee on September 22, 2026, with a mandate to establish the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths.
The panel was also directed to examine conditions at the detention facility, identify possible negligence or misconduct, and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
As part of its investigation, committee members visited the detention facility in Minna, inspected the mining site and the NSCDC state headquarters, and conducted autopsies.
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The panel also obtained statements from survivors, relatives of the deceased, NSCDC personnel and other witnesses to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The committee had earlier requested a two-week extension to complete its assignment, citing delays in obtaining forensic and pathology reports.
Before the investigation was concluded, the NSCDC had suggested that a possible diphtheria outbreak might have caused the deaths, although the agency acknowledged that medical examinations were necessary to establish the cause.
The committee’s findings subsequently attributed the deaths to environmental asphyxia linked to overcrowding, poor detention conditions, heat stress and dehydration.
The panel recommended the dismissal and prosecution of officers implicated in the incident, with further action expected from the relevant authorities.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
