*Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, with members of the panel.
The Federal Government’s Independent Investigative Committee has concluded that 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, succumbed to environmental asphyxia ( suffocation) caused by severe overcrowding, extreme heat, dehydration, and unsuitable detention conditions.
Committee Chairman Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, presented the panel’s report to Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo in Abuja on Tuesday, 27 October 2026.
Kure stated that the deaths on 17 September 2026 were avoidable and resulted from “overcrowding, unsuitable detention conditions, failure of duty of care, [and] inadequate supervision.” The fatalities stemmed from prolonged confinement in a severely overcrowded cell aggravated by heat stress and dehydration.
The victims, who included 14 minors, were among scores of people arrested during NSCDC operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on 15 and 16 September 2026. They were held at the NSCDC Niger State Command facility. Early accounts indicated that more than 60 detainees were packed into a cell designed for roughly 10–20 people.
Survivors and sources described desperate pleas for air, water, and relief from the heat that went unanswered; one officer later admitted hearing the detainees scream but did not open the cell out of fear of being overpowered.
NSCDC officials initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak. That explanation has been rejected by the panel’s findings. The committee also determined that the arrest operation itself was conducted without an operational order or approval from NSCDC national headquarters.
Recommendations and government response
The panel recommended payment of ₦1.4 billion to the families of 33 victims and 44 survivors. It further called for the summary dismissal of the then Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye (who has since been suspended), and all other officers directly involved in the detention and the resulting deaths. Tunji-Ojo directed the immediate suspension of officers who cleaned the detention centre in a manner that appeared intended to destroy evidence.
Aniviye has previously described the incident as a “costly mistake” and apologised to the bereaved families and the Niger State Government. The Federal Government suspended him along with about 20 other officers shortly after the deaths and later placed additional personnel in custody. A separate judicial commission of inquiry was also set up by Niger State Governor Umaru Bago. President Bola Tinubu had ordered a comprehensive, transparent investigation into the tragedy.
The panel’s report marks a significant step in establishing accountability for one of the most serious custody-related incidents in recent years. Further details on individual responsibility, disciplinary outcomes, and implementation of the compensation recommendations are expected as the government acts on the findings.