A Federal Government investigative panel has found that 37 suspected illegal miners died from suffocation while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The chairman of the Independent Investigative Committee, Jonathan Kure, disclosed the findings on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
The deceased reportedly died on September 17, 2026, while being held by the NSCDC Niger State Command in Minna.
They were among dozens of people arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State.
The committee’s findings identified asphyxiation, a condition in which the body is deprived of adequate oxygen, as the cause of death.
The Federal Government had constituted the independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish the cause of the incident.
The investigation was also intended to examine the circumstances of the victims’ arrest and detention, including the conditions in which they were held and whether relevant procedures were followed.
The presentation of the report marks a significant development in the investigation into the deaths.
Further details of the committee’s findings and any recommendations or disciplinary measures arising from the report were not included in the initial announcement.
