An investigative panel set up by the Federal Government has found that 37 suspected illegal miners died fromq suffocation while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
Chairman of the panel and retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, disclosed the finding on Tuesday while presenting the committee’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
The victims died on September 17, 2026, after being detained by the NSCDC Niger State Command in Minna.
They were among dozens of suspects arrested during operations against illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state on September 15 and 16. 
Their deaths sparked public outrage and raised questions over the conditions under which the suspects were detained and the circumstances surrounding the mass deaths.
Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu directed the establishment of a 10-member independent investigative committee to determine the cause of the deaths and establish whether negligence, misconduct or other wrongdoing contributed to the incident.
The panel was also mandated to investigate the circumstances surrounding the victims’ arrest and detention, recommend disciplinary measures where necessary, propose compensation where applicable and suggest measures to prevent a recurrence.
NSCDC Initially Blamed Suspected Disease Outbreak
Following the discovery of the bodies, the NSCDC Niger State Command initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, saying medical examinations would determine the actual cause.
The command said the suspects had been arrested during operations against illegal mining and that the bodies were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for examination.
However, accounts of the conditions in which the detainees were held heightened concerns over the incident.
A survivor told the Associated Press that about 65 detainees had been crammed into a poorly ventilated cell and struggled to breathe.
The report also said detainees had banged on the cell door to alert officers to their deteriorating condition.
The panel’s finding that the 37 victims died from suffocation now provides a key development in the investigation into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
In the aftermath of the incident, Tunji-Ojo ordered the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC commandant and 20 other officers pending the outcome of the investigation.
The minister had warned that no officer would be shielded if found culpable, while directing the NSCDC leadership and other relevant personnel to cooperate fully with the panel and preserve records and evidence relating to the deaths.
The committee was specifically tasked with determining whether negligence, misconduct, complicity or breaches of duty occurred during the victims’ arrest and detention.
The deaths also triggered protests in Minna, the Niger State capital, with residents and other concerned Nigerians demanding answers and accountability.
The Niger State Government subsequently declared a three-day mourning period for the victims and cancelled a scheduled political rally following the tragedy.
