NSCDC's Niger Commandant Made Up Disease Story to Hide 33 Deaths in Cell - Report

The Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Siyaka Suberu, wrote and shared a statement wrongly saying that 33 detainees died due to a "disease outbreak". This was revealed by an investigation committee.

The Independent Investigation Committee found that the statement was false and aimed to cover up the deaths in an overcrowded cell at the NSCDC state command in Minna, Niger State.

The 10-member committee, led by Jonathan Kure, submitted its report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on 27 October. The report described the statement as an attempt to mislead the public about how the deaths happened.

Mr Suberu, who was suspended after this tragedy, was reportedly shocked by what happened. He claimed he immediately contacted the commandant general of the NSCDC, the Niger State governor, and other agencies.

"He also personally issued a public press release attributing the 33 deaths to a ‘disease outbreak’ to conceal the custodial tragedy," the report obtained by PREMIUM TIMES said. "He attributed the tragedy to the failings of his subordinates and expressed his regrets."

Findings of the Investigation Committee

The panel's findings go against the command's claim of a disease outbreak.

The committee stated that medical checks showed the cause of death was environmental asphyxia. This was caused by being locked up in a very overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell. Heat stress and dehydration also played a part.

Post-mortem examinations were done on only three of the dead, named Emmanuel Emeka, Kabiru Suleiman, and Idris Haruna. The other 30 had already been buried by the time the pathology team arrived.

"Autopsy and histology reports are most consistent with death from environmental hypoxia (asphyxia) during confinement in a severely overcrowded, poorly ventilated cell," the report mentioned.

The committee noted that the cause of death for the 30 unexamined bodies could not be determined. But it said the similar circumstances and timing indicated they likely died in the same way as the three examined.

The committee also pointed out that infection, trauma, violence in custody, and natural diseases were unlikely reasons for the deaths.

The medical conclusions are still temporary until toxicology results come in.

The committee also found that the command did not follow proper procedures during the raid that led to these arrests.

According to the report, the operation ignored the specialized Mining Marshals Unit. There was no operational order or proper planning.

The command did not follow standard operating procedures or the “Open Detention” protocols used during a joint operation with the Mining Marshals Unit in June.

The report stated that the commandant's actions and failure to follow procedures led to the deaths.

It also found that the detention register for 16 September was missing and that officers altered the scene before any independent forensic checks.

"The cells were fraudulently re-numbered" after being cleaned and disinfected, the committee said.

On the claims of physical assault, the committee stated that post-mortem examinations did not find any signs of physical assault, blunt-force injuries, or violence as the immediate cause of death.

Reaction from the Commandant General

The report noted that NSCDC commandant general Ahmed Audi condemned the deaths and rejected the disease outbreak claim by the state commandant after the incident.

Mr Audi, who called the event an inexcusable "aberration," said the national headquarters had no prior knowledge of the mass raids.

He added that Mr Suberu acted without permission from the headquarters and must face the consequences.

"He officially debunked CC Suberu’s fabricated press release claiming a ‘disease outbreak,’ ordering the National PRO to rebut it, noting ‘we cannot defend illegality’,” the report highlighted.

The report also mentioned that the commandant general stressed that "open detention" protocols should have been used when the number of detainees exceeded cell capacity.

But survivors said they were beaten at the mining sites when they were arrested.

The committee confirmed 33 deaths, including 14 minors, and found 41 survivors, nine of whom were also minors. They recommended disciplinary and legal actions against the officers responsible, along with compensation for the families of the deceased and survivors.