A Federal Government investigative committee has found that 37 persons who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State died from asphyxiation.
The committee chairman, Jonathan Kure, while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja on Tuesday, said the committee recommended N1.4bn in compensation for the families of 33 victims and 44 survivors.
He said the deaths were avoidable, noting that the victims, including 14 minors, were detained in inhuman conditions.
The committee also recommended the summary dismissal of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC and other officers directly involved in the detention and deaths of the suspected illegal miners.
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It further called for institutional reforms within the corps to strengthen its leadership and prevent similar incidents.
Receiving the report, Tunji-Ojo promised to implement the committee’s recommendations to ensure justice for those affected.
The minister also directed the NSCDC commandant to immediately suspend officers who cleaned up the detention centre in an attempt to destroy evidence.
The 37 suspected illegal miners died on the 17th of September 2026, while in the custody of the NSCDC Niger State Command in Minna.
The victims were among dozens of people arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state.
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