An independent ministerial committee has blamed the deaths of 33 suspects in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, on overcrowding, extreme heat, dehydration and poor detention conditions.
The committee also identified inadequate supervision and failure to provide proper care as contributing factors in 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 deaths resulted from environmental asphyxia caused by prolonged confinement in a severely overcrowded cell, worsened by heat stress and dehydration.
The committee listed overcrowding, unsuitable detention conditions, failure of duty of care and inadequate supervision among the factors responsible for the fatalities.
The panel also found that the operation that led to the suspects’ arrest was conducted without an operational order or approval from the NSCDC national headquarters.
The finding raises questions about compliance with established operational procedures and the handling of suspects in custody.
The committee’s findings suggest that the conditions in the detention facility and failures in supervision played significant roles in the deaths.
However, the report excerpt provided did not specify whether the committee recommended disciplinary action against officers involved or outlined further measures to prevent similar incidents.
The presentation of the report to the Interior Minister marks a significant development in the investigation into the deaths of the 33 suspects.
