An independent investigative committee set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria has established that 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State died from asphyxiation. The committee's chairman, Jonathan Kure, a former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, disclosed this while presenting the panel's report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
The finding represents a major development in the investigation into the deaths of the suspects, who died on September 17, 2026, while being detained at the NSCDC Niger State Command facility in Minna. The deceased were among several persons arrested during enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16. Asphyxiation occurs when the body is deprived of sufficient oxygen, potentially resulting in death.
The committee was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish what happened to the suspects while they were in custody. The incident had sparked concerns over the conditions under which the suspects were detained, the adequacy of medical attention available to them, and the circumstances leading to the multiple fatalities.
Following the deaths, the NSCDC suspended the Niger State Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, and members of his team to allow for an unhindered investigation. The corps had initially declined to speculate on the cause of the deaths, insisting that medical and laboratory examinations were necessary to establish the facts.
The NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, said the Commandant-General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, had ordered a high-powered investigation into the matter. The investigative team was tasked with examining the circumstances of the arrests, the period the suspects spent in detention, the conditions at the facility, and the medical attention provided to them.
Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, had also confirmed the deaths, describing the incident as one that required a thorough investigation. The governor announced that the state government had constituted a commission of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatalities. Bago also disclosed that he had met with a Deputy Commandant-General of the NSCDC who was sent to represent the corps' leadership following the incident.
The committee's finding on asphyxiation is expected to provide a significant lead in determining the circumstances of the deaths and whether failures in detention procedures or other factors contributed to the tragedy. Further details of the committee's report, including any recommendations or identification of responsibility, were not immediately available.
Key points
- 37 suspected illegal miners died from asphyxiation in NSCDC custody.
- The incident occurred on September 17, 2026, at the NSCDC Niger State Command facility in Minna.
- The NSCDC suspended the Niger State Commandant and his team to allow for an unhindered investigation.
