Niger Miners Died Of Acute Respiratory Failure Aggravated By Heat, Overcrowding — Panel

Thirty-three miners who died while in detention in Niger State died of acute respiratory failure aggravated by extreme heat and overcrowding, an independent investigative committee has found, describing their deaths as avoidable and the conditions of their detention as cruel and inhuman.

The committee, chaired by Jonathan Kure, said the male cell was overcrowded, poorly ventilated and lacked a functional toilet. It also found that officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) ignored distress calls from detainees who banged on the cell door asking for water.

Presenting the committee’s report in Abuja on Tuesday, Kure said 33 bodies were verified and taken dead to the hospital, while recommending ₦1.4 billion in compensation for the families of the deceased and 44 survivors.

The committee concluded that the deaths resulted from a failure by officers to respond to the detainees’ distress, despite evidence that those held in the cell were in serious difficulty.

It described the incident as a cruel and inhuman act, citing the failure of officers to respond to pleas for water and assistance.

The panel also found extensive leadership failure by the Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, accusing him of issuing a false public statement that attributed the deaths to a disease outbreak.

It recommended the summary dismissal of the state commandant and all other officers directly involved in the detention and eventual deaths of the miners.

The committee further recommended institutional reforms within the NSCDC to strengthen leadership and prevent a recurrence.

Among its findings, the panel disclosed that one of the victims had been arrested over a debt issue. It also found that 14 minors were detained alongside the miners.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who received the report, promised to implement its recommendations to ensure justice for the affected families and survivors.

He also directed the NSCDC commandant to immediately suspend officers who cleaned up the detention centre in what the committee said was an attempt to destroy evidence.

The committee’s findings raise questions about the circumstances surrounding the miners’ detention, the conduct of the officers responsible for their custody and the initial explanation given by the state command.

The panel recommended compensation for the families of the 33 deceased miners and 44 survivors, alongside disciplinary action against the officers implicated in the incident and reforms to strengthen accountability within the corps.