Tuesday, October 27 2026 - The Federal Government’s committee that investigated the deaths of 33 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has identified asphyxiation as the cause of death.
Chairman of the 10-member committee, Jonathan Kure,
disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister
of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
Asphyxiation occurs when the body is deprived of adequate
oxygen, potentially resulting in unconsciousness, organ damage or death.
The federal government constituted the committee on
September 19 following a directive by President Bola Tinubu for a “full and
transparent” investigation into the deaths of the suspected illegal miners.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated
the 10-member independent committee chaired by Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy
Director-General of the Department of State Services, to investigate the deaths
and recommend appropriate action.
The committee was mandated to establish the identities of
the deceased, examine the circumstances of their arrest and detention,
determine the cause of death and identify any responsibility, negligence or
misconduct by officers of the corps.
The investigation also covered the conditions at the
detention facility, the number of detainees held there and the medical
attention provided before the deaths.
The NSCDC had initially said a diphtheria outbreak may have
led to the deaths but noted that medical and laboratory examinations were
required to determine the cause of death.
The panel's chairman said members of the panel had visited
the detention facility in Minna, inspected the mining site and NSCDC state
headquarters, conducted autopsies and obtained statements from survivors,
bereaved families, corps personnel and other witnesses.
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