By Our Reporter
A ministerial investigative committee has recommended the summary dismissal and prosecution of some officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over the deaths of 33 detainees in Minna, Niger State, while proposing N1.4 billion in compensation for bereaved families and survivors.
The committee, chaired by Jonathan Kure, said the deaths were entirely preventable, attributing the tragedy to severe overcrowding, poor ventilation, heat stress, dehydration and the failure of officers to respond to repeated distress calls from detainees.
Presenting the report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja on Tuesday, Kure said medical and forensic evidence did not support claims that the deaths resulted from a disease outbreak.
Instead, he said the findings pointed to environmental asphyxia and acute respiratory failure caused by prolonged confinement in a severely overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell.
The 65-page report examined the arrest, detention, treatment and deaths of suspects between September 15 and 17, 2026. The investigation followed a presidential directive after the incident.
According to the committee, the incident followed security operations against suspected illegal mining activities in and around Minna.
Kure said the operation was conducted without an approved operational order, adequate planning, consultation with relevant mining authorities or the involvement of the specialised Mining Marshals unit. The NSCDC national headquarters was also not informed before the operation began.
The raids reportedly led to the arrest of men, women and children. By the evening of September 16, 75 people had been detained. Following the release of one detainee, 74 remained in custody overnight.
About 50 male detainees were confined in a cell measuring approximately 20 square metres.
The committee described the facility as unsuitable for detention, noting that it had a solid metal door, inadequate airflow, no running water, poor lighting and no functioning toilet.
Food and drinking water were either unavailable or grossly inadequate, while adults and minors were held together.
It said the conditions violated constitutional safeguards, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the Child Rights Act and accepted international standards.
According to the panel, the conditions amounted to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, making the deaths foreseeable and preventable.
Kure said signs of distress began shortly after 7pm on September 16 and continued throughout the night, with detainees banging on cell doors and walls, shouting for help and pleading for water.
He said officers on nearby duties heard the distress calls but failed to open the cell, reduce the overcrowding or arrange emergency medical intervention.
The committee also found that medical personnel had earlier raised concerns about poor ventilation and the risk of suffocation, but their warnings were not acted upon.
The deaths occurred inside the male cell between 8pm on September 16 and 7am on September 17.
“By the time the cell was opened, many detainees had died,” Kure said.
The panel confirmed 33 deaths, including 14 minors, and identified 41 survivors. It said higher figures circulated shortly after the incident could not be reconciled with available records and the identities of confirmed victims.
Although some survivors alleged that an aerosol substance had been sprayed into the cell before the deaths, the committee said it found no evidence to substantiate the claim.
The committee identified several NSCDC officers whose actions or omissions it said contributed to the tragedy.
The Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siaka, was accused of authorising and supervising the operation without proper planning, approval or oversight, resulting in the overcrowding of the detention facility.
The Head of the Investigation Unit, T. S. Sodiq, was accused of facilitating unlawful detention practices, disregarding legal and medical concerns and failing to act despite being aware of the deteriorating conditions.
SC Usman Ndamaka was accused of maintaining overcrowded conditions, directing subordinates not to open the cell, ignoring emergency alerts and participating in the cleaning and alteration of the detention area before independent forensic examination.
Similarly, ASC I Hassan Mohammed was accused of failing to open the cell despite repeated distress signals and not adequately escalating the emergency.
DSC Abubakar Dabang was accused of profiling suspects for detention, including minors, without adequately protecting their rights or properly documenting exhibits.
The committee also accused DSC Musa Marafat of unlawfully arresting and detaining Emmanuel Emeka over a civil debt dispute unrelated to mining, thereby contributing to his continued detention until his death.
On compensation, the committee recommended N30 million for each of the 33 bereaved families and N10 million for each of the 41 survivors, bringing the total proposed compensation to N1.4 billion.
It also recommended educational support for dependants of the deceased, medical rehabilitation for survivors, psychological assistance for affected families and a formal apology from the Federal Government.
To prevent a recurrence, the panel called for the construction of standard detention facilities across NSCDC commands, installation of closed-circuit television systems in custodial areas and the establishment of an independent inspectorate and custodial oversight mechanism.
It further recommended improved detention management, human rights training, better emergency medical services and stronger supervision.
The committee identified broader institutional weaknesses, including inadequate detention infrastructure, poor documentation, the absence of effective CCTV monitoring, weak emergency response capacity, ineffective intelligence reporting, workforce imbalances and chronic underfunding.
The panel acknowledged limitations in its investigation, including the unavailability of the detention register for September 16.
It also disclosed that 30 of the 33 deceased detainees had been buried before post-mortem examinations could be conducted, while the detention area had been cleaned, disinfected and altered before independent forensic investigators arrived.
Despite these limitations, the committee said sufficient evidence was available to establish the essential facts, causes of the deaths and responsibilities of those involved.
It recommended the summary dismissal of officers found primarily responsible and prosecution for offences including murder, criminal negligence, torture and inhuman treatment, where applicable.
It also called for investigations by anti-corruption agencies into allegations of extortion and the mismanagement of exhibits.
Administrative sanctions were recommended for officers whose failures contributed to the incident but did not amount to primary culpability.
Receiving the report, Tunji-Ojo assured the families of the deceased that the Federal Government would ensure accountability.
“Nothing will be swept under the carpet,” the minister said.
He disclosed that he had met President Bola Tinubu after the committee was inaugurated and described the President as deeply committed to ensuring justice.
According to the minister, the committee was carefully constituted with 10 members who were not government appointees.
Tunji-Ojo also announced plans for a comprehensive review of the NSCDC, similar to reviews undertaken in the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Correctional Service and Federal Fire Service.
He said officers suspected of concealing or altering evidence should be suspended immediately pending internal investigations and other disciplinary measures.
“You cannot destroy evidence in a case where we lost 30-something people. That is wickedness,” he said.
The minister added that the report would be forwarded to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for appropriate legal action.
He assured the families of the deceased that the government would not abandon them, promising that steps would be taken to ensure justice for the victims.
The committee, meanwhile, urged the government to demonstrate the political will required to implement its recommendations and prevent similar custodial deaths in the future.