Ministerial Committee Calls for Apology Over NSCDC Deaths

An independent ministerial committee investigating the deaths of 33 individuals in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, has recommended that the federal government apologize to the bereaved families, survivors, and Nigerians. The committee, chaired by Jonathan Kure, described the incident as a preventable custodial tragedy, attributing the deaths to severe overcrowding, unlawful detention conditions, and failure of duty of care.

The investigation revealed that 14 minors were among the deceased, and identified acute respiratory failure due to environmental asphyxia as the cause of death, rather than a disease outbreak. Approximately 50 male detainees were confined in a 20 square metre cell with inadequate ventilation and no running water.

The deaths occurred between the evening of September 16 and the morning of September 17, 2026. The committee authenticated 33 fatalities and identified 41 survivors, recommending educational support for dependants of the deceased and accountability measures against responsible officers.