A Federal Government investigative panel has established that 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State were victims of asphyxiation.
Jonathan Kure, chairman of the independent investigative committee and a former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while submitting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
The finding provides a major development in the investigation into the deaths of the suspects, who died on September 17, 2026, at an NSCDC detention facility in Minna, the Niger State capital.
The deceased were among individuals arrested during enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state on September 15 and 16.
Asphyxiation is a condition in which the body is deprived of sufficient oxygen, potentially leading to death.
The circumstances surrounding the incident had raised concerns about the treatment of detainees, the conditions in which they were held and the medical care available to them while in custody.
Following the deaths, the NSCDC suspended its Niger State Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, and members of his team to facilitate an investigation into the incident.
The corps had earlier confirmed the fatalities but cautioned against attributing them to any particular illness before the completion of medical and laboratory examinations.
In a statement issued after the incident, Babawale Afolabi, the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, said the Commandant-General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, had ordered a high-powered investigative team to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The team was expected to examine the condition of the suspects at the time of their arrest, their detention period, the conditions at the facility and the medical attention they received.
The NSCDC also pledged to prioritise the health and welfare of other detainees and take precautions to protect personnel who might have been exposed to any health risks associated with the incident.
Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, had confirmed that 37 persons died and announced the establishment of a state government commission of inquiry to investigate the matter.
Bago said the commission had commenced work, stressing that the deaths could not be allowed to pass without a proper investigation.
He also disclosed that he had met with a Deputy Commandant-General sent by the NSCDC leadership to discuss the incident.
The governor said the suspension of the Niger State commandant and his team was intended to ensure that the investigation proceeded without interference.
The Federal Government committee’s conclusion that the victims died from asphyxiation is expected to intensify scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding their detention and the events that preceded their deaths.
However, details of the report’s recommendations and whether it identified individuals or institutional failures responsible for the incident were not immediately disclosed.
The findings are likely to remain central to efforts to establish accountability and determine whether any further administrative or legal action is warranted.
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