Tinubu’s Investigative Committee Submits Report on 37 NSCDC Custody Deaths

ABUJA, NIGERIA — An investigative panel has revealed that severe overcrowding, extreme heat, and a total failure in the duty of care led to the suffocating deaths of 37 detainees—including 14 minors—while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

The 10-member committee, chaired by former Department of State Services (DSS) Deputy Director-General Jonathan Kure, officially presented its findings to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The victims, who were suspected illegal miners, were arrested during an NSCDC crackdown between September 15 and 16 at the Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.

“A Preventable Custodial Tragedy”

According to the report, the detainees died from asphyxiation—a fatal lack of oxygen—compounded by severe dehydration and heat stress inside the packed holding cells.

“The committee concluded that the incident was a preventable custodial tragedy,” Kure stated. He pointed directly to systemic negligence, noting that the fatalities were caused by “severe overcrowding, unlawful and unsuitable detention conditions, failure of duty of care, disregard of repeated distress warnings, inadequate supervision, and wider systemic deficiencies.”

Kure further highlighted institutional gaps and “overzealousness” by certain personnel, emphasizing an urgent need for greater professionalism within the corps.

The federal government originally constituted the investigative panel on September 19 following a direct order from President Bola Tinubu for a transparent inquiry. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Minister Tunji-Ojo announced the suspension of 21 NSCDC officers linked to the tragedy.

The panel traveled to the Minna facility to conduct autopsies, gather forensic and documentary evidence, and take witness statements from survivors, grieving families, and NSCDC staff.

Receiving the report, the Ministry of Interior is expected to review the recommendations to address the critical regulatory gaps and hold the responsible officers accountable.