A Federal Government investigative panel has recommended the dismissal of the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other officers implicated in the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in custody.
The panel also recommended ₦1.4 billion in compensation for the families of the deceased and survivors of the incident, which occurred on September 17, 2026, at an NSCDC detention facility in Minna, Niger State.
Chairman of the Independent Investigative Committee, Jonathan Kure, disclosed the findings on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
The committee found that the detainees died from asphyxiation caused by prolonged confinement in overcrowded conditions. It described the deaths as avoidable and noted that 14 minors were among the victims.
The panel recommended compensation for the families of 33 deceased victims and 44 survivors. It also called for institutional reforms within the NSCDC to strengthen accountability and prevent a recurrence.
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Receiving the report, Tunji-Ojo pledged that the Federal Government would implement the recommendations to ensure justice for those affected.
The minister also directed the immediate suspension of officers accused of cleaning up the detention centre in circumstances allegedly intended to destroy evidence relating to the deaths.
The victims were among dozens of people arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State.
The Federal Government had earlier suspended Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and 20 other officers pending the outcome of the investigation.
The panel’s recommendations now place the responsibility on the government and the corps’ leadership to ensure accountability, compensate affected families and survivors, and address the institutional failures identified in the investigation.
