Niger Mass Deaths: Probe panel recommends scholarships for victims’ children, N1.4bn compensations

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo received report from a 10-member independent investigation committee

The committee that investigated the September deaths of 33 detainees in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has recommended full educational scholarships for the children of deceased victims and N1.4 billion in compensation for bereaved families and survivors.

In its report submitted to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on 27 October, the Independent Investigation Committee proposed N30 million for each of the 33 bereaved families, amounting to N990 million, and N10 million for each of the 41 survivors, totalling N410 million.

The committee also recommended full educational scholarships, from primary to tertiary levels, for surviving children of the deceased.

It proposed that tuition payments and living stipends be administered through an institutional trust or escrow arrangement involving the National Human Rights Commission and the Minna Emirate Council to prevent diversion of funds and family disputes.

The report identified three deceased detainees whose wives were pregnant at the time of the investigation: Mu’awiya Abdulkareem, Safiyanu Abubakar and Suleiman Dantala.

It further recommended fully funded medical rehabilitation for all 41 survivors, with priority attention to the nine minors, as well as psychosocial support for survivors and bereaved families.

The committee called for a formal letter of apology from the Minister of Interior to the affected families and survivors on behalf of the Federal Government.

The committee also recommended the immediate lifting of the suspension of 18 NSCDC officers it said were not found culpable in the deaths.

Among those listed were three deputy commandant of corps – Philips Ajayi, John Agrahau Chagwa, and Obafemi Elvis.

The rest are Stephen Tsado, an assistant commandant of corps; Abdullahi Sale, an inspector of corps, and Annas Lamino Shittu, a chief suprintendent of corps.

It recommended formal commendations and protection as key prosecution witnesses for four officers whose interventions and testimonies it described as helpful. They include Ahmed Abubakar Wushishi, Mohammed Isah Sanusi, Mariam Eteng Nelson and Annas Lamino Shittu.

The committee also recommended disciplinary sanctions against four other officers for what it described as gross management incompetence.

Beyond compensation, the panel called for a formal overhaul of the NSCDC, including improved detention facilities, staff training, supervision and independent inspection of operations.

It recommended the installation of tamper-proof, cloud-backed CCTV cameras in cell blocks, booking areas and corridors, with mandatory video-retention protocols.

The committee also urged the federal government to support the formalisation of artisanal mining and establish a consultative forum involving the NSCDC, miners’ association, traditional councils and local governments to address challenges in the sector.