By Obah Sylva
The Federal Government’s investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) custody in Minna, Niger State, is continuing, with a federal committee beginning its work and a separate state judicial commission also set up to examine the incident.
The detainees were among 67 people arrested during NSCDC operations targeting suspected illegal mining around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas on September 15 and 16. Their deaths were discovered at an NSCDC facility in Minna on September 17. The cause and circumstances of the deaths have not been conclusively established.
Key Highlights
- Thirty-seven people died in NSCDC custody in Minna after anti-illegal-mining operations.
- The detainees were among 67 people arrested on September 15 and 16.
- The Federal Government’s 10-member independent committee has commenced its investigation.
- Niger State has established a separate nine-member judicial commission with a four-week mandate.
- Police have also opened an investigation and begun preliminary forensic work.
- The Niger State NSCDC Commandant and 20 other officers were suspended pending investigations.
- The cause of death remains unconfirmed; official and survivor accounts differ.
37 Detainees Die in NSCDC Custody
The victims were arrested during NSCDC operations around M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto in Minna. Niger State Governor Umaru Bago said 67 people had been detained before 37 deaths were confirmed.
The NSCDC initially cited a suspected disease outbreak and said medical examinations would be needed to determine the cause. Bago said investigators were also considering possible suffocation linked to overcrowding and exposure to hazardous substances. Neither explanation has been established as the definitive cause.
Survivors Raise Questions About Detention Conditions
Survivors and relatives have raised concerns about overcrowding and ventilation inside the detention facility. The Associated Press reported that a survivor described detainees being held in a poorly ventilated cell and struggling to breathe.
These accounts are part of the questions investigators are expected to examine. They do not, by themselves, establish the medical cause of the deaths. Medical and forensic evidence is expected to help determine what happened.
Federal Committee Begins Investigation
President Bola Tinubu ordered a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo constituted a 10-member independent committee on September 19 and inaugurated it in Abuja on September 22, according to the State House.
The committee is chaired by retired DSS Deputy Director-General Jonathan Kure, with former Nigerian Law School Director-General Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma as secretary. Its mandate includes establishing the identities of the deceased, examining their arrest and detention, determining the cause and manner of death, and investigating possible negligence or misconduct.
The committee has two weeks to submit its report. Premium Times reported that it began its investigation on September 24 and adopted a work plan at its first sitting.
Niger State Opens Separate Judicial Inquiry
Governor Bago inaugurated a separate nine-member judicial commission of inquiry on September 23, as Channels Television reported. The state commission has four weeks to investigate the arrests, the legality and conditions of detention, the treatment of detainees and the circumstances of the deaths.
The Niger State Government said the inquiry would examine responsibility and accountability, including medical and forensic evidence. The state commission’s mandate is to establish the facts and make recommendations; it is separate from the Federal Government’s committee.
Police Probe and NSCDC Suspensions
The Niger State Police Command has taken over the scene and begun an investigation following a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, according to the police account reported by Channels Television. Police said preliminary forensic investigations were underway.
The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, and 20 other officers were suspended pending the outcome of the federal investigation. The suspensions are administrative measures and do not, by themselves, establish responsibility for the deaths.
The Interior Ministry directed relevant officers to preserve records and evidence and cooperate with investigators. It warned that attempts to conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the inquiry would be treated seriously.
Protests and Calls for Accountability
The deaths prompted protests in Minna as relatives and residents demanded answers. Authorities imposed a 12-hour curfew after unrest, while the Federal Government urged the public to remain calm as investigations proceeded.
Families have called for a transparent account of what happened to their relatives after arrest. Human rights advocates have also stressed that allegations of illegal mining do not remove the rights of people held in state custody.
Investigations to Establish What Happened
The federal and state inquiries, along with the police investigation, are expected to examine the arrests, the number of people held at the facility, detention conditions, access to medical care and the response to any signs of distress.
The exact cause of the deaths and whether negligence or misconduct contributed remain under investigation. Authorities have said findings and any recommendations will follow the inquiries.
Read Also:
- What Really Happened to 37 Suspected Illegal Miners’ Deaths in NSCDC Custody in Niger?
- CISLAC, Transparency International Call for Independent Probe into Miners’ Deaths
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