Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
A Federal Government investigative panel has found that 37 suspected illegal miners died from suffocation while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State, recommending compensation of ₦1.4bn for affected families and survivors.
The committee also described the deaths as avoidable, noting that 14 of the deceased were minors who had been held under inhumane conditions.
The chairman of the Independent Investigative Committee 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 committee recommended that ₦1.4bn be paid to the families of 33 victims and 44 survivors affected by the incident.
The panel also recommended the summary dismissal of the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC and other officers directly involved in the detention of the miners and the events that led to their deaths.
In addition to individual accountability, the committee called for institutional reforms within the NSCDC to strengthen leadership and prevent similar incidents.
Receiving the report, Tunji-Ojo pledged to implement the committee’s recommendations to ensure justice for the affected families and survivors.
The minister also directed the NSCDC Commandant-General to immediately suspend officers accused of cleaning up the detention facility to destroy evidence, according to the report.
The findings concern the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners on September 17, 2026, while they were being held at the NSCDC Niger State Command in Minna.
The victims were among dozens of people arrested during operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State.
The panel’s recommendations now place compensation, disciplinary action and institutional reforms at the centre of efforts to address the deaths and establish accountability for the incident.
