33 Miners Died Of Suffocation In NSCDC Cell, Autopsy Finds

…Panel Recommends N1.4bn Compensation

A Federal Government investigative panel has linked the deaths of 33 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, to suffocation in an overcrowded, poorly ventilated detention cell.

The panel recommended N1.4bn in compensation for the families of the deceased and 41 survivors and called for the prosecution and dismissal of officers found culpable in the incident.

The committee attributed the deaths to acute respiratory failure caused by prolonged confinement, compounded by heat stress and dehydration. It recommended N30m for each of the 33 bereaved families and N10m for each survivor.

The recommendations are contained in a report submitted to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja on Tuesday, following an investigation into the deaths in NSCDC custody in September.

The panel also recommended educational support for the dependants of the deceased, medical rehabilitation and psychological support for survivors, and a formal government apology to those affected.

The findings contradict earlier suggestions that a disease outbreak, including diphtheria, might have caused the deaths.

The committee said there was no evidence of an infectious disease outbreak or to substantiate allegations that an aerosol substance had been released inside the cell.

It attributed the deaths to overcrowding, poor detention conditions, failure of duty of care, ignored distress calls, inadequate supervision and institutional failures.

According to the report read by the committee chairman, Jonathan Kure, the deaths occurred between midday on September 16 and 5 p.m. on September 17, 2026, after detainees were held in conditions the panel considered unsuitable for human confinement.

About 50 male detainees were confined in a cell measuring approximately 20 square metres. The facility had a solid metal door, poor ventilation and lighting, no running water and no functioning toilet.

Food and drinking water were either unavailable or grossly inadequate, while adults and minors were held together.

The committee found that signs of distress emerged shortly after 7 p.m. on September 16, when detainees began banging on the cell doors and walls and shouting for help and water.

Officers nearby reportedly heard the cries. The panel also found that some personnel had previously raised concerns about ventilation and the risk of suffocation, but no action was taken.

Despite the distress calls, officers failed to open the cell, reduce the number of detainees or arrange an emergency response. Many of the victims were dead by the time the cell was eventually opened.

The panel confirmed 33 deaths and identified 41 survivors, including six who received treatment at General Hospital, Minna, before being discharged. Fourteen of the deceased were minors.

Although 33 bodies were officially recorded and taken to hospital, only three post-mortem examinations were conducted because the remaining 30 bodies had been buried before the committee’s medical team arrived.

Kure said, “The committee established that the deaths occurred inside the male detention cell between 1200 hours on 16 September and 1700 hours on 17 September 2026. By the time the cell was opened, many detainees had died.

“The committee authenticated 33 deaths in custody and identified 41 survivors. Fourteen of the deceased were minors. Six survivors were treated at the General Hospital, Minna, and subsequently discharged.

“Thirty-three bodies were officially recorded as brought in dead at the hospital. The committee confirmed 33 as the verified casualty figure, as the higher numbers reported immediately after the incident could not be reconciled with valid records and identified victims.

“Post-mortem examinations were conducted on three available bodies. The remaining 30 bodies had already been buried before the arrival of the committee’s medical team.”

The committee said the available medical and other evidence was sufficient to conclude that the deaths resulted from the same cause.

The investigation also encountered problems with evidence preservation. The cell area had been cleaned and altered before independent forensic investigators arrived, while the detention register for September 16 was missing.

The committee recommended the prosecution of officers found culpable for offences that may include murder, criminal negligence, torture and inhuman treatment, as applicable under the law.

It called for the summary dismissal of officers considered principally responsible and administrative sanctions for others implicated in the incident. It also recommended that an anti-corruption agency investigate allegations of extortion and financial mismanagement connected to the matter.

The panel criticised the Niger State commandant over the unauthorised operation, failure to prevent overcrowding and a public statement attributing the deaths to a disease outbreak.

It also identified failures among officers responsible for investigation, detention and supervision, including the alleged failure to respond to distress calls and concerns about the cell’s conditions.

The report raised concerns about the detention of some suspects beyond the lawful period and the arrest of people whose cases were unrelated to illegal mining.

One detainee, identified as Emmanuel Emeka, was reportedly held over a civil dispute relating to a death rather than a mining offence.

The Niger State commandant and 20 other officers had earlier been suspended while the investigation proceeded.

The deaths followed NSCDC raids on September 15 and 16, 2026, targeting suspected illegal mining activities around Minna and Borgu in Niger State, after complaints concerning the MIWC axis.

The sites were reportedly licensed to OZAMS, Consults and Services Limited, and Prince Air Resources Limited.

The committee found that the operation was conducted without an approved operational order and adequate planning or consultation with relevant mining authorities. The NSCDC national headquarters was not informed before the operation, while specialised mining marshals were not involved.

By the evening of September 16, 75 people had reportedly been arrested. One person was released, leaving 74 detainees in custody overnight.

The panel identified the handling of the operation and the subsequent detention of suspects as part of the failures that contributed to the deaths.