Federal Government’s independent panel establishes asphyxiation as the cause of death of 37 suspected illegal miners detained in Minna, Niger State, as questions over the circumstances surrounding the tragedy remain in focus.
An independent investigative committee set up by the Federal Government has found that 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State died from asphyxiation.
The committee’s chairman and retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Jonathan Kure, disclosed the findings on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
The development marks a significant step in the investigation into the deaths of the detainees, who died on September 17, 2026, while being held at the NSCDC Niger State Command facility in Minna.
The deceased were among dozens of suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations conducted by NSCDC personnel in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
Following the arrests, 37 of the detainees were reported dead while in custody, triggering public concern and calls for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The NSCDC initially reported that the deaths followed a suspected outbreak of disease, stating that the remains had been deposited at the General Hospital in Minna for medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.
However, the independent investigative committee has now identified asphyxiation, a condition resulting from inadequate oxygen supply to the body, as the cause of the deaths.
The Federal Government constituted a 10-member independent investigative committee following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated the committee and charged its members to establish the facts surrounding the deaths and determine whether negligence, misconduct, complicity or any breach of duty occurred.
The committee was also mandated to identify the deceased, document the circumstances of their arrest and detention, examine relevant medical and forensic evidence, and recommend appropriate disciplinary measures and compensation where applicable.
The panel is chaired by Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the DSS, while Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, a former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, serves as secretary.
Following the incident, the Federal Government ordered the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and other officers connected with the operation and detention of the suspects.
The measure was intended to facilitate an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish the responsibilities of personnel involved.
The government also directed the NSCDC leadership and relevant officers to cooperate fully with the committee and preserve all records and material evidence relating to the incident.
The investigation has drawn attention to the responsibility of security agencies to ensure the safety, welfare and humane treatment of individuals held in their custody.
The committee’s findings represent an important development in efforts to establish what happened to the 37 detainees.
However, determining the cause of death is only one aspect of the investigation. Questions surrounding the conditions of detention, the circumstances that led to the deaths and whether any officers or institutional failures contributed to the tragedy remain central to the demand for accountability.
The Federal Government had previously assured Nigerians that the investigation would be conducted transparently and that any officer found culpable would face appropriate consequences in accordance with the law.
The incident has also renewed concerns about custodial safety, compliance with human rights standards and the need for security agencies to maintain adequate safeguards for detainees.
As further details of the committee’s report emerge, attention will remain on its recommendations, the determination of individual responsibility and the measures authorities will adopt to prevent similar incidents in the future.
For the families of the deceased, the central expectation remains that the circumstances surrounding the deaths will be fully established and that justice will be pursued where wrongdoing is proven.
Abuja Affairs Blog will continue to follow developments in the investigation and report further verified information as it becomes available.
