An investigative committee set up by the federal government to look into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Minna, Niger State, has concluded that the victims died from a lack of oxygen.
Jonathan Kure, chairman of the 10-member independent committee, disclosed the finding on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, in Abuja.
Kure said the panel travelled to Minna, inspected the custody facility, conducted autopsies and collected witness statements and documentary and forensic evidence as part of its investigation.
The committee also obtained statements from NSCDC personnel, survivors, the families of the deceased and other witnesses.
The federal government constituted the panel on September 19 following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a “full and transparent” investigation into the deaths.
Tunji-Ojo had announced the investigation in a statement that also listed 21 NSCDC officers suspended in connection with the incident.
The investigation followed the NSCDC’s announcement that the suspects had been arrested during operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.
Suberu Aniviye, the NSCDC commandant in Niger State, said in a statement that “scores of the detained suspects were found dead in the early hours of Thursday following a suspected outbreak of disease”.
The federal government subsequently suspended the state commandant and ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
On October 6, the committee requested a two-week extension to complete and submit its report.
Presenting the findings, Kure said preliminary investigations had also revealed institutional gaps and overzealousness by some officers. He said the findings pointed to the need for greater professionalism in handling sensitive cases.
Asphyxiation occurs when the body is deprived of adequate oxygen, potentially causing unconsciousness, organ damage or death.
The panel’s report identifies oxygen deprivation as the cause of the deaths, following an investigation that included autopsies and evidence gathered from the custody facility and witnesses.
What You Should Know
A federal investigative committee has officially reported that 37 suspected illegal miners died from suffocation while detained at an NSCDC facility in Minna, Niger State. The panel, led by Jonathan Kure, reviewed autopsy findings, inspected the detention center, and gathered evidence following President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a transparent inquiry, which also led to the suspension of 21 officers.
- Positive Impact: The transparent investigation and suspension of implicated officers demonstrate a commitment to accountability and human rights within security agencies.
- Potential Concerns: The incident highlights severe institutional gaps, overzealousness, and poor detention conditions within law enforcement facilities, raising concerns about the safety of detainees.
