An Independent investigative committee set up by the Federal Government has recommended the prosecution of officers found culpable in the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.

The committee also recommended N1.4 billion in compensation for the families of 33 victims and 44 survivors of the incident, which it described as a preventable tragedy caused by inhuman detention conditions, overcrowding and failure to provide adequate care.

Chairman of the committee and former Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, Jonathan Kure, disclosed the findings on Tuesday while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja.

Kure said the investigation established that the 37 detainees died from asphyxiation, a condition in which the body is deprived of sufficient oxygen, following their confinement in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated detention facility.

The victims, including 14 minors, died on September 17, 2026, after they were arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State.

According to the committee, the deaths were avoidable, as the detainees were held in conditions that fell below acceptable standards of humane treatment.

The panel consequently recommended the summary dismissal of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant and other officers directly involved in the detention of the miners and the circumstances that led to their deaths.

It also called for the prosecution of officers found culpable for offences including murder, criminal negligence, torture and inhuman treatment, where supported by the evidence and applicable law.

Beyond individual accountability, the committee recommended institutional reforms within the NSCDC to strengthen leadership, improve operational procedures and prevent a recurrence of the tragedy.

The Minister of Interior, who received the report, pledged that the Federal Government would implement the committee’s recommendations to ensure justice for the victims and their families.

Tunji-Ojo also directed the NSCDC leadership to immediately suspend officers who allegedly cleaned up the detention facility in an attempt to destroy evidence connected with the incident.

The directive underscores concerns over the preservation of evidence and the need to establish whether any personnel attempted to obstruct the investigation.