A ministerial investigative committee has declared the deaths of 33 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, “entirely preventable” and recommended N1.4 billion in compensation for victims’ families and survivors. The committee chairman, Jonathan Kure, disclosed the recommendations on Tuesday while presenting the report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
The panel recommended N30 million for each of the 33 bereaved families and N10 million for each of the 41 survivors. It also called for educational assistance for the deceased’s dependants, medical rehabilitation for survivors, psychological support for affected families and a formal government apology. According to the report, the deaths resulted from “environmental asphyxia caused by prolonged confinement in a severely overcrowded cell aggravated by heat stress and dehydration.”
The committee identified overcrowding, unsuitable detention conditions, failure of duty of care and inadequate supervision as the major contributing factors. It also found that the operation leading to the arrests was unauthorised, having been conducted without an operational order or approval from the NSCDC national headquarters.
The report raised concerns over the alleged alteration of the detention facility before investigators inspected it. The cells were reportedly washed, scrubbed and disinfected, while additional ventilation openings were introduced and cell numbers changed. The committee identified Superintendent of Corps Ndamaka Isah Usman as having led the cleaning and alteration. It also noted that the detention register for September 16, when most arrests occurred, was unavailable.
The panel recommended the dismissal and prosecution of officers whose actions directly contributed to the deaths, alongside administrative sanctions for personnel who failed in their supervisory responsibilities.
The 33 detainees died between September 16 and 17, 2026, after being held in overcrowded, poorly ventilated cells. Medical examinations of three victims indicated acute respiratory failure consistent with environmental asphyxia. President Bola Tinubu ordered an investigation following public outrage over the incident, prompting the Federal Government to establish the committee. The panel called for reforms in detention procedures, supervision, record-keeping and evidence preservation to prevent similar tragedies.
