An independent investigative committee has found that 33 miners who died while in detention in Niger State succumbed to acute respiratory failure aggravated by extreme heat and overcrowding, describing the deaths as avoidable and the detention conditions as cruel and inhuman.
Gatekeepers News reports that the committee, chaired by Jonathan Kure, said the male detention cell was overcrowded, poorly ventilated and lacked a functional toilet.
It also found that officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) ignored distress calls from detainees who banged on the cell door pleading for water.
Presenting the committee’s report in Abuja on Tuesday, Kure said 33 bodies had been verified and taken dead to the hospital.
The panel recommended ₦1.4 billion in compensation for the families of the deceased miners and 44 survivors.
According to the committee, the deaths resulted from the failure of officers to respond to detainees’ distress despite indications that those held in the cell were experiencing serious difficulties.
It described the incident as a cruel and inhuman act, citing the failure of officers to respond to pleas for water and assistance.
The panel also identified serious leadership failures within the Niger State Command of the NSCDC, accusing the state commandant of issuing a false public statement that attributed the deaths to a disease outbreak.
It recommended the summary dismissal of the commandant and all other officers directly involved in the detention and eventual deaths of the miners.
The committee further called for institutional reforms within the NSCDC to strengthen leadership, accountability and safeguards against a recurrence.
Among its findings, the panel disclosed that one of the victims had been arrested over a debt-related issue. It also found that 14 minors were detained alongside the miners.
Interior Minister Vows to Implement Recommendations
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who received the report, pledged to implement its recommendations to ensure justice for the affected families and survivors.
He also directed the NSCDC commandant to immediately suspend officers who cleaned up the detention centre in what the committee described as an attempt to destroy evidence.
The findings have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the miners’ detention, the conduct of officers responsible for their custody and the initial explanation issued by the state command.
In addition to the proposed ₦1.4 billion compensation, the committee called for disciplinary action against officers implicated in the incident and reforms to strengthen accountability within the corps.
The recommendations are aimed at ensuring justice for the victims, supporting survivors and preventing similar deaths in detention facilities.
