Panel finds 37 Niger miners died of suffocation in NSCDC custody, recommends N1.4bn compensation

By Ogundele Eniola

A Federal Government investigative committee has found that 37 suspected illegal miners died from asphyxiation while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, and has recommended ₦1.4 billion in compensation for affected families and survivors.

The committee, chaired by former Department of State Services (DSS) deputy director-general Jonathan Kure, submitted its report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to the panel, the deaths were preventable and resulted from prolonged confinement in a severely overcrowded cell, with inadequate ventilation, extreme heat and dehydration contributing to the fatalities.

The committee found that detainees were held in a cell measuring approximately 20 square metres, with about 50 people confined in the space. The facility reportedly lacked adequate ventilation, running water and functioning toilet facilities, while access to food and drinking water was grossly inadequate.

The panel recommended ₦30 million in compensation for each of the 33 bereaved families and ₦10 million for each of 41 survivors, alongside educational support for the dependants of deceased victims, medical rehabilitation and psychological support for affected families. It also recommended a formal apology from the Federal Government.

The committee called for the summary dismissal of the NSCDC Niger State commandant and other personnel whose actions directly contributed to the deaths. It further recommended administrative sanctions for officers found to have failed in their duties.

The investigation also identified serious operational failures, including the absence of proper authorisation and planning for the operation that led to the arrests. The panel said the detention conditions violated basic safeguards for people in custody.

Receiving the report, Tunji-Ojo pledged that the Federal Government would implement the committee’s recommendations. He also directed the NSCDC leadership to suspend officers allegedly involved in cleaning the detention facility before independent investigators arrived, raising concerns about the preservation of evidence.

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The deaths occurred in September 2026 after the suspected miners were arrested during operations against alleged illegal mining activities in Niger State. The incident prompted public outrage and a presidential directive for an independent investigation.

The panel’s findings have renewed calls for accountability and reforms in the treatment of detainees, particularly the need to ensure that people in custody are protected from preventable harm.

The proposed compensation and disciplinary measures are recommendations; their implementation remains the responsibility of the relevant authorities.