The Federal Government has released the findings of the Independent Investigative Committee established to probe the tragic deaths in Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) custody in Niger State, revealing that 33 lives, including 14 minors, were lost in a preventable custodial tragedy.
Following a clear directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a 10-member committee was inaugurated five weeks ago to uncover the full truth behind the incident. The comprehensive report presented by the committee established that the fatalities were caused by severe overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, prolonged exposure to extreme heat and dehydration, and a systemic failure of duty of care within the detention facility, rather than any disease outbreak.
Reiterating the administration’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda that every Nigerian life matters and that justice must be served, the Ministry has transmitted the full report to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for immediate judicial action.
Additionally, officers who attempted to conceal, disrupt, or destroy evidence will face immediate suspension and full accountability, while comprehensive institutional reforms of the NSCDC are being driven with urgency and precision. Supporting the bereaved families and survivors remains a top priority for the administration to ensure Nigerians receive the full measure of justice they deserve.
The investigative committee, which delivered a thorough and professional report after five weeks of rigorous fieldwork, was chaired by Mr. Jonathan Kure, mni, a retired Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services, with Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, serving as Secretary.
Other distinguished members of the committee included retired AIG Hosea Hassan Karma; Professor Olayinka Buhari, Professor of Histopathology and former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and the Niger State Government; Alhaji Liman Sulaiman, National Secretary of the Miners Association of Nigeria; human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju; journalist Mrs. Zainab Suleiman Okino of Blueprint Newspaper; and public affairs analyst Dr. George Agbakahi.
