By Opeyemi Adelakun
An independent investigative panel set up by the Federal Government has identified asphyxiation as the cause of death of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The committee’s chairman, Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, announced the finding on Tuesday during the submission of the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
The 37 detainees died on September 17, 2026, while being held by the NSCDC Niger State Command in Minna.
They had been arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State.
The Federal Government established the committee after the deaths triggered concerns over the circumstances surrounding the detention and the treatment of the suspects. President Bola Tinubu directed that the investigation be comprehensive, transparent and unhindered.
The panel was mandated to investigate the circumstances of the arrests and detention, establish the cause of death through medical and forensic examination, determine possible negligence or misconduct, and recommend appropriate action.
The committee’s latest finding establishes asphyxiation as the cause of death, according to its chairman. However, details of the report’s recommendations and any findings on individual responsibility were not contained in the initial account of the presentation.
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