Niger Miners' Case: NSCDC Cell Cleaned to Hide Evidence, Says Probe Member

The cell of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, where 33 suspected illegal miners died, was allegedly cleaned and renumbered to destroy evidence. A member of the federal government's investigation committee revealed this in a post on social media on Wednesday, sharing findings from the committee's report.

Deji Adeyanju, a lawyer and human rights activist who was part of the 10-member Independent Investigation Committee, stated, "NSCDC Cell was washed clean, disinfected, renumbered in an attempt to destroy evidence after the death of 33 miners."

This allegation raises serious concerns about how evidence was handled after the deaths of these suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in Minna last month.

Panel Recommends Prosecution

This new information comes after Adeyanju announced earlier that the committee had submitted its report to the federal government. They recommended that officers involved in the deaths be prosecuted for murder and other charges.

He also mentioned that the committee called for a major change in the NSCDC’s leadership, compensation for the victims' families, and the formal recognition of artisanal mining.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the committee described the deaths as a preventable tragedy caused by overcrowding, poor ventilation, long exposure to heat, and dehydration.

In a statement on his official Facebook page, Tunji-Ojo said the committee determined that these conditions, not a disease outbreak, led to the deaths.

He added that the report was sent to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for legal action. He warned that officers trying to hide, disrupt, or destroy evidence would be held responsible.

Background

The federal government set up the independent committee on September 19 after President Bola Tinubu ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths.

The incident happened after the arrest of suspected illegal miners during operations in Minna on September 15 and 16. Niger State NSCDC Commandant Suberu Aniviye and 20 other officers were suspended in connection with the case.

On October 27, TheCable reported that the committee found asphyxiation, which is a lack of oxygen, to be the cause of death. The committee chairman, Jonathan Kure, said investigators looked at the detention facility, performed autopsies, and gathered witness statements and forensic evidence.

The minister's later statement attributed the deaths to conditions inside the cell and called the incident preventable.

The claim that the cell was cleaned, disinfected, and renumbered has not been independently verified by PREMIUM TIMES. The committee’s full report and any official response from the NSCDC regarding this specific allegation were not available immediately.