37 miners died of suffocation in NSCDC custody- FG Panel

The Federal Government’s committee that investigated the deaths of 33 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has identified asphyxiation as the cause of death.

Chairman of the 10-member committee, Jonathan Kure, disclosed this on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.

Asphyxiation occurs when the body is deprived of adequate oxygen, potentially resulting in unconsciousness, organ damage or death.

The federal government constituted the committee on September 19 following a directive by President Bola Tinubu for a “full and transparent” investigation into the deaths of the suspected illegal miners.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, inaugurated the 10-member independent committee chaired by Jonathan Kure, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, to investigate the deaths and recommend appropriate action.

The committee was mandated to establish the identities of the deceased, examine the circumstances of their arrest and detention, determine the cause of death and identify any responsibility, negligence or misconduct by officers of the corps.

The investigation also covered the conditions at the detention facility, the number of detainees held there and the medical attention provided before the deaths.

The NSCDC had initially said a diphtheria outbreak may have led to the deaths but noted that medical and laboratory examinations were required to determine the cause of death.

The panel's chairman said members of the panel had visited the detention facility in Minna, inspected the mining site and NSCDC state headquarters, conducted autopsies and obtained statements from survivors, bereaved families, corps personnel and other witnesses.