Niger Miners’ Deaths: Panel Members Reveal Findings in Interview

The Federal Government has ordered the suspension of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers implicated in alleged evidence tampering following the deaths of 33 detainees in Niger State, as an investigative committee recommended the prosecution of culpable personnel for murder.

Speaking in an interview, Jonathan Kure, chairman of the investigative committee on the Niger miners’ deaths, said the proposed compensation for the victims’ families was reached after consultations with those affected. He noted that no amount of money could adequately compensate for the loss of human lives, explaining that the settlement terms followed discussions with the families.

Kure also questioned the description of the deceased as illegal miners, saying the committee’s findings required consideration of the circumstances surrounding the mining sites and their ownership before such a label could be applied.

Deji Adeyanju, a lawyer and member of the panel, described the incident as tragic, disclosing that the committee found that nine out of 14 persons in the category examined were minors. He said survivors recounted how they climbed over one another in the overcrowded cell in desperate attempts to breathe, while some allegedly drank their urine because they had no access to water.

Adeyanju said the detention facility was originally an office, not a cell designed to hold detainees. He explained that its tiny ventilation openings in an iron door made airflow inadequate, adding that the room could accommodate about 10 people at most, even though they would still be uncomfortably cramped.

The committee authenticated 33 deaths and identified 41 survivors. Its findings attributed the deaths to asphyxiation amid severe overcrowding and poor ventilation. The incident followed the arrest of suspected miners in Minna, with the investigation raising concerns about detention conditions and the treatment of those in custody.

Adeyanju said the committee had recommended the prosecution of officers found culpable for murder, insisting that those responsible must face the consequences. The Federal Government is expected to consider the panel’s recommendations, including accountability measures and compensation for the affected families and survivors.