Niger Miners’ Deaths: Survivors’ Claims Of Chemical Spray Not Proven By Tests — Panel

The independent ministerial committee investigatng the Niger custody deaths of 33 persons in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, has said allegations by some survivors that a chemical or aerosol substance was sprayed into their detention cell before the deaths could not be substantiated by the available evidence.

Chairman of the committee, Jonathan Kure, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting the panel’s report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

According to the committee, some survivors alleged that an aerosol substance had been released into the cell before the incident, but investigators found no evidence to support the claim.

The report stated that the allegation remained unproven based on the evidence available to the panel.

The committee, however, attributed the deaths to acute respiratory failure consistent with environmental asphyxia, resulting from prolonged confinement in a severely overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell.

It identified extreme heat, dehydration and inadequate ventilation as the principal contributing factors.

The panel said approximately 50 male detainees were confined in a cell measuring about 20 square metres, with inadequate airflow, no running water and no functioning toilet.

It also established that detainees repeatedly called for help, banged on the cell doors and walls, and pleaded for water as conditions deteriorated during the night of September 16, 2026.

The committee said the distress signals were heard by officers assigned to nearby duties, but timely intervention was not provided.

The deaths occurred between the evening of September 16 and the morning of September 17, 2026, according to the report.

The panel authenticated 33 fatalities and identified 41 survivors. Fourteen of the deceased were minors.

Only three of the deceased underwent post-mortem examinations because the remaining 30 had already been buried before the committee’s medical team arrived.

Although the limited number of post-mortem examinations constrained the investigation, the committee said the common environment, timing and circumstances surrounding the incident supported its conclusion that environmental asphyxia was the most likely mechanism responsible for the deaths.

It added that the available evidence did not support claims that a disease outbreak caused the fatalities.

The committee also reported that the detention area had been cleaned, disinfected and altered before independent forensic investigators arrived, affecting aspects of the forensic assessment.

It recommended accountability for officers whose actions or omissions contributed to the tragedy, as well as reforms to detention management, emergency response and independent custodial oversight.

The panel said the findings underscored the need for prompt medical intervention whenever detainees show signs of respiratory distress or other life-threatening conditions.