Committee blames overcrowding for death of 33 suspects in NSCDC custody

By Anan Geolengs

The independent ministerial committee investigating the death of 33 persons in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna has identified overcrowding and unsuitable detention condition as causes of death.

The Chairman of the committee, Jonathan Kure, disclosed this in the executive summary of the report presented to the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Kure said the incident was a preventable custodial tragedy caused by severe overcrowding, unlawful and unsuitable detention conditions, failure of duty of care, disregard of repeated distress warnings, inadequate supervision and wider systemic deficiencies.

“The evidence did not support claims that the death resulted from a disease outbreak.

“Available medical and forensic evidence instead indicated that the fatalities resulted from an environmental asphyxia, an acute respiratory failure caused by prolonged confinement in a severely overcrowded and poorly ventilated detention cell, aggravated by heat stress and dehydration,” he said.

He said the investigation included interviews with NSCDC leadership, operational personnel, cell guards, medical staff, survivors, bereaved families, community representatives and graveside managers.

He said it also involved examination of arrest and detention registers, communication records, duty rosters, AZB registers, hospital and mortuary records, autopsy findings and burial records.

According to him, 29 of the 41 survivors were interviewed, including nine minors.

He said evidence from multiple independent sources was analysed and cross-checked to reconstruct events and determine responsibility.

“The committee established that the tragedy stemmed from enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining activities in and around Minna,” he said.

Kure said the operation which led to the arrest of the suspects was without an operational order or approval from the national headquarters of the NSCDC.