27 October 2026 1:16 pm WAT
An independent ministerial committee has attributed the deaths of 33 suspects held by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, to overcrowding, extreme heat, dehydration and poor detention conditions.
The committee also identified inadequate supervision and failure to provide proper care as factors that contributed to the deaths.
Chairman of the committee, Jonathan Kure, disclosed the findings on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to the report’s executive summary, the victims died from environmental asphyxia after prolonged confinement in a severely overcrowded cell, compounded by heat stress and dehydration.
The panel stated that the detention conditions were unsuitable and that the failure to provide adequate care and supervision contributed to the fatalities.
It also found that the operation leading to the suspects’ arrest was conducted without an operational order or approval from the NSCDC national headquarters.
The findings raise concerns about compliance with operational procedures and the responsibility of security agencies to ensure the safety and welfare of people in their custody.
The committee’s report provides an account of the circumstances surrounding the deaths and identifies shortcomings in the operation and detention arrangements.
The Minister of Interior received the report on Tuesday. Further details of the committee’s recommendations and any disciplinary measures arising from its findings were not contained in the available report summary.
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