A Federal Government investigative committee has established that 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State lost their lives to asphyxiation, a condition resulting from inadequate oxygen supply to the body.
Chairman of the committee and former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Jonathan Kure, disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
The investigation followed the deaths of the detainees on September 17, 2026, while in the custody of the NSCDC Niger State Command in Minna.
The deceased were among dozens of suspects arrested during security operations targeting alleged illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state.
The Federal Government constituted the committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and establish what happened to the detainees while they were being held by the civil defence authorities.
The panel’s finding of asphyxiation provides a key outcome of the investigation, although details of the specific circumstances that led to the deaths were not disclosed during the presentation of the report.
The incident has drawn attention to the welfare, safety and treatment of suspects in the custody of security agencies, particularly during operations against alleged criminal activities.
The presentation of the report to Tunji-Ojo is expected to enable the Federal Government to consider the panel’s findings and determine the appropriate next steps.
The deaths occurred amid security operations against suspected illegal miners in Niger State, where unauthorised mining activities have remained a concern for authorities because of their potential implications for security, environmental protection and the management of mineral resources.
However, the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the 37 detainees remain a critical aspect of the case, with questions about the events leading to the incident expected to inform further government action.
The initial disclosure did not specify whether the committee identified individuals or officials responsible for the deaths, recommended disciplinary measures or proposed other sanctions.
Further details of the report and any decisions by the Federal Government are expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident and the measures to be taken in response to the findings.
