37 Miners Died of Asphyxiation in Niger NSCDC Custody, Panel Finds

The Federal Government’s investigative committee probing the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has found that the victims died from asphyxiation and recommended ₦1.4 billion in compensation for affected families and survivors.

The committee chairman and former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, disclosed the findings on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.

Kure said the deaths were avoidable, noting that the victims, including 14 minors, were held in inhuman conditions while in the custody of the NSCDC Niger State Command.

The committee recommended that ₦1.4 billion be paid to the families of 33 victims and 44 survivors affected by the incident.

It also called for the summary dismissal of the Niger State NSCDC commandant and all other officers directly involved in the detention of the suspected miners and the circumstances that led to their deaths.

In addition, the panel recommended institutional reforms within the corps to strengthen leadership, improve accountability and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

Receiving the report, Tunji-Ojo promised that the Federal Government would implement the committee’s recommendations to ensure justice for all affected persons.

The minister also directed the NSCDC commandant to immediately suspend officers alleged to have cleaned up the detention centre to destroy evidence connected to the incident.

The findings mark a major development in the investigation into the deaths of the suspected illegal miners, who died on September 17, 2026, while in the custody of the NSCDC Niger State Command in Minna.

The victims 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 recommendations now place responsibility on the Federal Government and the NSCDC leadership to address accountability, compensate affected families and survivors, and implement reforms to prevent similar deaths in custody.