Investigation show say 37 miners kpai for NSCDC custody sake of suffocation, committee make recommendations

Nigeria govment don find out wetin kpai di 37 pipo wey bin dey for di Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) custody for Niger State.

Di Independent Investigative Committee wey chook eyes inside di 37 deaths find out say di alleged illegal miners die from asphyxiation.

NSCDC bin arrest di suspected illegal miners for wetin dem call "burst operation" on 15th and 16th September 2026.

However, by di next day wey be 17 September, dem admit say many of di pipo wey dem arrest don die for custody.

Even as dem say dem bin still dey find di cause of death, di NSCDC blame di deaths on suspected outbreak of diseases.

But di Chairman of di Independent Investigative Committee wey be former Deputy Director-General of di Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure tok on Tuesday say na lack of oxygen kill dem..

Wetin di committe recommend

Di chairman wey reveal wetin kill dem wen im present di report of di panel to di Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for Abuja make some recommendations.

According to Kure, di panel recommend say make dem pay 1.4billion naira to di families of 33 victims and forty-four survivors.

Di committee chairman add say di deaths dey avoidable as di victims, including 14 minors bin dey for conditions wey human being no suppose stay.

Di committee also recommend summary dismissal of di state commandant of di Niger State Command of di Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

Dem also recommend summary dismissal for di officers wey dey directly involved for di detention and death of di miners.

Oda recommendation include institutional reforms for di Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps wey go strengthen di leadership of di corps.

Di Minister of Interior, Tunji Ojo wey receive di report say e go implement wetin di committee recommend to make sure say di popo wey dey affected get justice.

Tunji-Ojo give order to di commandant of di Corps make e suspend all di officers sharp-sharp wey bin clean up di detention centre to destroy di evidence.

Di victims bin dey among plenti pipo wey dem bin arrest during operations against suspected illegal mining for di M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State.

Wetin Nigeria govment bin do?

Wen dis mata bin happun for September, 2026, President Bola Tinubu bin order full and transparent investigation into di deaths of suspected illegal miners wey die for detention for di facility of di Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

For statement im bin tok say di investigation go establish di circumstances of di arrests, di condition of di detainees wen dem take dem into custody, di conditions under which dem hold dem, di number of pesins dem detain for di facility, di medical attention dem provide to dem plus di events wey lead to dia deaths.

Di president wey bin express deep concern for di reported deaths tok say na veri serious issue wey dem must urgently and thoroughly investigate.

Tinubu bin make am veri clear say if at di end of di investigation, dem find out say any official, through action, abuse or negligence, contribute to dis deaths, dat officer must chop arrest and prosecution in accordance wit di law.

Di president also clear am say di fact say di young men dey suspected for illegal mining, no remove dia right to life, dignity and humane treatment.

"Di life of evri Nigerian mata. No citizen suppose lose dia life for govment custody sake of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty."

E add say govment go continue to combat illegal mining plus oda criminal activities for di kontri, but agencies must do am strictly within di law and wit full respect for di dignity and fundamental rights of di pipo dem take into custody.

Meanwhile, di Niger State govment bin also set up dia own investigative committee to chook eye into di deaths of dis suspected illegal miners.

Niger State bin tell di BBC say "some of di pipo wey survive say dem spray dem somtin like pepper. E fit be say dem teargas dem or somtin... pesin come carry somtin wey be like perfume spray for dem - na so pipo start to dey cough and pipo start to dey choke".

Di report from di state investigative committee neva come out.

Wetin be asphyxiation, di condition wey kpai dem?

According to Cleveland Clinic, Asphyxiation na condition wey dey happun wen pesin no get enuf oxygen for bodi.

Tins wey dey cause am include allergic reactions, wen pesin dey sink inside water or wen foreign objects block pesin airway.

Di symptoms include struggling to breath, loss of consciousness and inability to speak.

Di treatment include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Di Heimlich manoeuvre and medications.