TUE OCT 27 2026-theGBJournal| The deaths of 37 detainees in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State were caused by extreme detention conditions and failures of supervision, rather than a disease outbreak, according to an independent investigative committee.
Presenting its report today to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the committee said the fatalities followed prolonged confinement in a severely overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell between 15 and 17 September 2026.
Its findings point to a combination of environmental asphyxia, heat stress and dehydration, raising serious questions about the treatment of detainees and the authorities’ responsibility to protect people in custody.
The committee described the incident as a preventable custodial tragedy, citing unlawful and unacceptable detention conditions, ignored distress warnings, inadequate supervision and wider institutional shortcomings.
The incident involved 37 people who died while detained by the NSCDC in Niger State over a three-day period in September.
The circumstances surrounding their deaths prompted a presidential directive for an investigation, leading the Federal Ministry of Interior to establish an independent investigative committee.
The committee was tasked with examining the circumstances of the detainees’ arrest and detention, the conditions in which they were held, the treatment they received and the events leading to their deaths.
Its investigation covered the period from 15 to 17 September 2026.
The deaths raised concerns about overcrowding, the adequacy of detention facilities and whether officials responded appropriately to signs of distress among those held in custody.
The report runs to 65 pages, of which 46 constitute the main report.
The remaining pages cover the preliminary aspects of the evaluation.
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