NSCDC Custody Deaths: 37 Miners Suffocated in Niger State

On September 17, 2026, thirty-seven individuals died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State. An investigation by a Federal Government panel, directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and led by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, found that the deaths resulted from suffocation due to severe overcrowding, poor ventilation, heat, and dehydration.

The victims had been arrested during operations against illegal mining on September 15 and 16, 2026. The panel, chaired by retired Department of State Services Deputy Director-General Jonathan Kure, presented its findings on October 27, 2026.

The investigation included site inspections, autopsies, and interviews with NSCDC personnel and survivors. It concluded that the deaths were preventable and linked to unlawful detention conditions and a failure to respond to distress calls.

The committee emphasized that detainees retain their right to life and humane treatment under Nigeria's Constitution.