The panel submitted a report, saying 37 miners died of extreme heat, suffocation in NSCDC cells

A ten-member independent committee set up by the federal government to investigate the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger state, has submitted its report on the incident.

The panel which presented its report to the Minister of Home Affairs, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo in Abuja during a media conference on Tuesday said that the miners died of asphyxiation, a condition in which the body is deprived of oxygen, potentially leading to unconsciousness, organ damage or death.

Jonathan Kure, chairman of the committee, while speaking at the event, said the panel traveled to Minna and inspected detention facilities, conducted autopsies, took witness statements from NSCDC personnel, survivors, families and other witnesses, and collected documentary and forensic evidence.

He noted that initial findings showed that there were institutional gaps and overzealousness of some officers, so that greater professionalism was needed in handling such sensitive cases.

The committee further said that the operation that led to the arrest of the suspects was without operational orders or approval from the national headquarters of the NSCDC.

The federal government had established the committee on September 19 following a directive from President Bola Tinubu to conduct a “full and transparent” investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners.

Following the development, the federal government suspended the Niger State NSCDC commander and ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Tunji-Ojo announced the decision in a statement that included the names of 21 officers suspended in connection with the incident.

Two days before the committee was formed, the NSCDC said the suspects were arrested in an operation carried out on September 15 and 16 around Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Farm in Minna, the capital of Niger State.

In a statement, Suberu Aniviye, NSCDC commander in Niger State, said “dozens of detained suspects were found dead early Thursday morning following a suspected disease outbreak”.

However, on October 6, the panel requested a two-week extension to submit its report on the matter.