THE independent ministerial committee investigating the deaths of 33 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, the Niger State capital, has identified overcrowding, poor detention conditions and inadequate supervision as major causes of the incident.
The committee also listed failure of duty of care, saying the suspects were exposed to extreme heat and dehydration because of overcrowding, making it difficult for them to breathe and survive.
Chairman of the committee, Jonathan Kure, who disclosed this on Tuesday, October 27, while presenting its report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the conditions in which the suspects were detained contributed to the deaths.
The committee also found that the operation that led to their arrest was carried out without an operational order or approval from the NSCDC national headquarters, thereby raising concerns about compliance with operational procedures and treatment of suspects in the custody of security agencies.
