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 chairman and former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.
TheFact Daily recalls that the deaths occurred on September 17, 2026, after the victims were arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State. Their deaths in NSCDC custody prompted a Federal Government investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine what led to the loss of 37 lives.
The committee’s finding of asphyxiation, which refers to a condition in which the body is deprived of adequate oxygen, marks a significant development in the investigation.
Further details of the report and any recommendations by the committee are expected to emerge following its presentation to the minister.
