A Federal Government investigative panel has attributed the deaths of detainees held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State to suffocation resulting from overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, extreme heat and dehydration.
Presenting the committee’s findings to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja on Tuesday, the panel chairman, Jonathan Kure, a former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, said the incident was preventable and exposed serious failures in the handling of detainees.
The committee’s report identified 33 confirmed deaths, including 14 minors, and 41 survivors. It concluded that the tragedy resulted from unlawful detention conditions, failure to protect detainees, ignored distress calls and inadequate supervision.
Kure explained that medical and forensic findings pointed to environmental asphyxia following prolonged confinement in an overcrowded, poorly ventilated cell. He said there was no medical evidence to substantiate claims that a disease outbreak caused the deaths.
The 10-member panel was established following a directive from President Bola Tinubu to investigate the deaths of suspects arrested during operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities in Niger State.
According to the report, NSCDC personnel carried out raids on September 15 and 16 without an approved operational order, sufficient planning or consultation with the relevant mining authorities. The corps’ national headquarters was also not notified before the operation commenced.
The investigation revealed that approximately 50 male detainees were held in a cell measuring about 20 square metres. The facility reportedly lacked adequate ventilation, running water, proper lighting and a functional toilet.
The detainees were also allegedly denied sufficient food and drinking water, while adults and minors were confined together without appropriate safeguards.
Kure said the conditions violated constitutional protections, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the Child Rights Act and recognised international standards governing detention.
Witnesses told the committee that detainees repeatedly banged on the cell doors and walls, shouted for assistance and pleaded for water as the situation worsened overnight.
Despite the apparent deterioration in conditions, officers responsible for the detainees allegedly failed to open the cell, reduce overcrowding or arrange emergency assistance.
The deaths reportedly occurred between 8pm on September 16 and 7am on September 17, when the cell was eventually opened.
Post-mortem examinations were performed on three bodies, while the remaining 30 had reportedly been buried before the arrival of the committee’s medical team.
The panel also examined allegations that an aerosol substance had been sprayed into the cell before the deaths but found no evidence to support the claim.
However, investigators raised concerns that the detention area had been cleaned, disinfected and modified before independent forensic experts arrived. The committee also noted that the detention register for September 16 was missing.
The report identified alleged misconduct and leadership failures involving the state commandant, the head of the Investigation Unit and other officers responsible for detainee welfare.
The state commandant was accused of authorising and supervising the operation without adequate planning or oversight, allowing the cell to become overcrowded and later attributing the deaths to a disease outbreak.
Other personnel were accused of ignoring pleas for assistance, maintaining unlawful detention conditions, failing to protect minors and participating in the alteration of the detention facility.
The committee recommended that officers found culpable be prosecuted for applicable offences, including murder, criminal negligence, torture and inhuman treatment. It also called for investigations into alleged extortion and the mishandling of exhibits.
In addition, the panel proposed the immediate dismissal of the state commandant and officers directly responsible for the deaths, alongside disciplinary measures against other personnel whose actions or omissions contributed to the incident.
On compensation, the committee recommended N30 million for each of the 33 bereaved families and N10 million for each of the 41 survivors. The proposed payments amount to approximately N1.4 billion.
Other recommendations include educational assistance for the children and dependants of deceased detainees, medical rehabilitation for survivors, psychological support for affected families and a formal apology from the Federal Government.
Kure reiterated that the deaths, which included those of 14 minors, could have been avoided if the responsible authorities had fulfilled their obligations.
The panel also called for sweeping reforms within the NSCDC, including the provision of standard detention facilities, installation of CCTV cameras in custodial areas, improved emergency medical services, stronger supervisory mechanisms and additional human rights training for personnel.
Responding to the findings, Tunji-Ojo assured Nigerians that the government would act on the recommendations and pursue justice for the victims.
He directed the NSCDC Commandant-General to immediately suspend officers allegedly involved in cleaning the detention facility and potentially destroying evidence.
“The best gift we can give to the deceased is justice. And justice must be done,” the minister said.
Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the report would be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for further legal action. He added that the Ministry of Interior would consider the administrative recommendations and work with the corps to implement institutional reforms.
Rejecting the idea that investigative panels are established merely to ease public pressure, the minister said the government would not tolerate attempts to conceal evidence. He warned that officers implicated in the alleged concealment or destruction of evidence would face suspension pending investigations and disciplinary proceedings.
Meanwhile, committee member Deji Adeyanju initially questioned the absence of a section from the report’s executive summary presented to the minister.
Adeyanju alleged that the section had been included when the committee completed its work but was missing from the version presented at the ceremony. He requested its restoration and raised concerns about whether references to the NSCDC Commandant-General had been removed.
However, after reviewing the full report, Adeyanju told journalists that the section remained in the main document.
“I don’t want these people to die in vain,” he said.
The victims died on September 17, 2026, while in the custody of the NSCDC Niger State Command in Minna. They had been arrested during operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state.
The committee’s findings have placed renewed scrutiny on the conduct of security personnel, the treatment of detainees and the need for accountability over deaths in custody.