By Inegbenose Prevail
An independent investigative panel has uncovered unauthorised arrest operations, unlawful detention, severe overcrowding and alleged attempts to tamper with evidence in the deaths of 33 detainees, including 14 minors, in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
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The panel, chaired by retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, found that the detainees died from environmental asphyxia caused by prolonged confinement in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell, aggravated by extreme heat and dehydration.
Presenting the committee’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja on Tuesday, Kure described the incident as a preventable tragedy resulting from serious failures in detention procedures, supervision and the duty of care owed to the detainees.
“The committee concluded that the incident was a preventable custodial tragedy caused by severe overcrowding, unlawful and unsuitable detention conditions, failure of duty of care, disregard of repeated distress warnings, inadequate supervision, and wider systemic deficiencies,” the report stated.
The panel confirmed 33 deaths and identified 41 survivors, including minors, following the arrests of suspected illegal miners during operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto communities of Niger State.
Unauthorised operations, unlawful detention
The investigation established that the operations leading to the arrests were conducted without an approved operational order, adequate planning or authorisation from the NSCDC national headquarters.
The panel also found that relevant mining authorities were not adequately consulted before the operations were carried out.
Following the arrests, approximately 50 male detainees were confined in a cell measuring about 20 square metres.
According to the report, the facility had inadequate ventilation, poor lighting, no running water and no functioning toilet. Food and drinking water were either unavailable or grossly inadequate.
The panel further found that adults and minors were detained together under conditions it described as unlawful and unsuitable.
It said the detention arrangements violated constitutional safeguards, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, the Child Rights Act and accepted international standards.
Officers ignored distress calls
The committee identified the failure of officers to respond to repeated distress calls from detainees as a major factor contributing to the deaths.
The detainees reportedly struggled to breathe and appealed for assistance, including water, but officers failed to respond adequately to their deteriorating condition.
Medical and forensic evidence examined by the panel indicated that prolonged confinement in the overcrowded cell led to acute respiratory failure, worsened by heat stress and dehydration.
The committee said the evidence did not support claims that a disease outbreak caused the deaths.
It also identified serious failures in leadership and supervision within the Niger State Command, including the conduct of officers responsible for the operation, investigation and management of the detention facility.
Panel uncovers alleged evidence tampering
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In a significant finding, the committee discovered that the detention cells had been washed, scrubbed, chemically disinfected and altered before independent investigators inspected the facility.
Additional ventilation openings were introduced, while the cells were renumbered before the panel’s visit.
The committee said these changes raised concerns about the preservation of the crime scene and affected aspects of the forensic investigation.
It identified Superintendent of Corps Ndamaka Isah Usman, the officer in charge of cell guards, as having led the cleaning and alteration of the detention area.
The report also cited testimony from Chief Superintendent of Corps Annas Lamino Shittu, who said he saw Usman and four other individuals washing the facility and tampering with the scene before independent forensic examiners arrived.
The panel further found that the detention register for September 16, 2026, when most of the detainees were arrested, was unavailable.
Investigators reportedly relied on earlier photographs, first-responder images, interviews and other documentary evidence to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Commandant, other officers face allegations
The committee identified failures by the suspended Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, whom it accused of authorising and supervising the operation without adequate planning, approval or oversight.
The panel also faulted the commandant for permitting overcrowding, failing to ensure lawful detention practices and subsequently issuing a public statement attributing the deaths to a disease outbreak.
Other officers were accused of various forms of misconduct, including facilitating unlawful detention, ignoring distress signals, failing to respond to emergencies, inadequate documentation and attempts to alter the detention facility.
The committee recommended the summary dismissal and prosecution of personnel whose actions directly contributed to the deaths, alongside administrative sanctions for officers whose supervisory failures contributed to the incident.
₦1.4bn compensation recommended
Beyond disciplinary measures, the panel recommended a total compensation package of ₦1.4 billion for the families of the deceased and the survivors.
The proposed package comprises ₦30 million for each of the 33 bereaved families, amounting to ₦990 million, and ₦10 million for each of the 41 survivors, totalling ₦410 million.
It also recommended educational support for dependants of the deceased, medical rehabilitation for survivors, psychological support for affected families and a formal apology from the Federal Government.
The committee called for institutional reforms within the NSCDC to address weaknesses in leadership, detention facilities, custodial oversight, record-keeping and emergency response.
Receiving the report, Tunji-Ojo said the Federal Government would forward it to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for further judicial action.
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He also assured the victims’ families that officers found culpable would not be shielded, regardless of rank or position.
The government is expected to review the committee’s recommendations and determine the appropriate disciplinary, judicial and institutional measures to prevent a recurrence.