An independent investigative committee established by the Federal Government has recommended the prosecution and dismissal of officers found responsible for the deaths of 33 detainees in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State. The panel also proposed a total compensation package of N1.4bn for the victims’ families and survivors.
Presenting the findings to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday, the committee chairman, Jonathan Kure, described the incident, which occurred between September 16 and 17, 2026, as a preventable tragedy caused by severe overcrowding, poor ventilation, dehydration and the failure of officers to respond to distress calls.
The 10-member committee was established following a directive from President Bola Tinubu to investigate the deaths of detainees arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining activities in Niger State. Although initial reports put the death toll at 37, the panel verified 33 fatalities and identified 41 survivors. Fourteen of the deceased were minors.
According to Kure, medical and forensic evidence indicated that the victims died from environmental asphyxia, a form of acute respiratory failure associated with prolonged confinement in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell. Heat stress and dehydration reportedly worsened the situation. The investigation found no evidence to support claims that a disease outbreak caused the deaths.
The committee established that NSCDC personnel carried out raids on September 15 and 16 following complaints about mining activities around the Miwishishi axis. However, the operation allegedly proceeded without an approved operational order, adequate planning or consultation with relevant mining authorities. The NSCDC national headquarters was also reportedly not informed before the operation began.
Kure said approximately 50 male detainees were held in a cell measuring about 20 square metres. The facility reportedly had inadequate ventilation, poor lighting, no running water and no functioning toilet. Food and drinking water were either unavailable or grossly insufficient, while adults and minors were detained together.
Witnesses told the committee that detainees repeatedly banged on the cell doors and walls, shouted for help and pleaded for water as conditions deteriorated overnight. However, officers responsible for their welfare allegedly failed to open the cell, reduce the overcrowding or arrange emergency assistance despite repeated distress signals.
The panel established that the deaths occurred between 8pm on September 16 and 7am on September 17, when the cell was eventually opened.
Post-mortem examinations were conducted on three bodies, while the remaining 30 victims had been buried before the committee’s medical team arrived. The panel also found no evidence supporting allegations that an aerosol substance had been sprayed into the cell before the deaths.
However, investigators reported that the detention area had been cleaned, disinfected and altered before independent forensic examination, affecting the investigation. The detention register for September 16 was also unavailable.
The committee identified serious failures of leadership, supervision and professional conduct among several officers. It accused the State Commandant of authorising and supervising the operation without proper planning or oversight, permitting overcrowding and failing to ensure lawful detention conditions. The commandant was also criticised for publicly attributing the deaths to a disease outbreak, a claim the committee said was unsupported by the evidence.
Other personnel, including the Head of the Investigation Unit, S.C. U. Ndamaka, A.S.C. I. Hassan Mohamed and D.S.C. Abubakar Dabam, were also faulted for various alleged failures involving unlawful detention, ignored distress signals, inadequate emergency response and the detention of minors.
The committee recommended that officers found culpable face prosecution for offences including murder, criminal negligence, torture and inhuman treatment, where applicable. It also called for anti-corruption investigations into allegations of extortion and the mismanagement of exhibits, alongside administrative sanctions for other officers whose conduct contributed to the incident.
Under its proposed compensation package, each of the 33 bereaved families would receive N30m, while each of the 41 survivors would receive N10m. Additional recommendations include educational assistance for dependants of deceased victims, medical rehabilitation for survivors, psychological support for affected families and a formal apology from the Federal Government.
The panel further called for a comprehensive restructuring of the NSCDC, including reforms to leadership, recruitment, appointments, promotions, discipline, deployment, intelligence gathering, supervision and reporting. It also recommended standard detention facilities, CCTV installations in custodial areas, improved emergency medical services and stronger human rights training.
Responding to the report, Tunji-Ojo said the Federal Government would forward it to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for further judicial action. He added that the ministry would review the administrative recommendations and work with the NSCDC to implement institutional reforms.
The minister said the government would not establish committees merely to ease public pressure without taking action. He also disclosed that officers suspected of concealing or destroying evidence would face immediate suspension pending investigations and further disciplinary measures.
Tunji-Ojo said President Tinubu had expressed concern about the incident and the need to protect vulnerable persons held in government custody.
Meanwhile, committee member Deji Adeyanju initially raised concerns that an important section of the report had been omitted from the executive summary presented to the minister. He called for the section to be restored and questioned whether references to the NSCDC Commandant-General had been removed.
However, Adeyanju later told journalists that he had been shown the complete report and confirmed that the section he was concerned about remained in the main document. He said his concern arose because the information was not reflected in the executive summary.
The committee concluded that the deaths of the 33 detainees, including 14 minors, were entirely preventable.
Source: Punch
