An officer in charge of a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) detention facility in Niger has told a judicial commission of inquiry that he feared detainees would overpower him if he opened an overcrowded cell before 37 suspected miners died in custody.
Assistant Superintendent of Corps Usman Isah Ndamaka gave the account while testifying before the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Commission of Inquiry in Minna. He broke down in tears during his testimony, admitted that he failed to prevent the deaths and apologised to the victims’ families and the Niger State Government.
“An error is already committed. I’m very sorry, sir, for the death of the miners under my custody. It is unfortunate that this happened under my watch,” Ndamaka told the commission.
He added: “I’m pained, and it is very unfortunate it happened. I’m very sorry. I admitted my mistake.”
Explaining the circumstances before the incident, Ndamaka said 58 suspects, comprising 33 males and 25 females, were brought to the command, although the available detention facility could accommodate only between 28 and 30 people.
He said officials attempted to separate the female detainees from the males by moving the women to another facility, but the available accommodation remained inadequate.
According to the officer, the suspects arrived late in the evening during heavy rainfall, creating further difficulties in finding suitable space for them.
Ndamaka also told the panel that an attempt to transfer some of the detainees to the old command facility failed after the Mining Marshals rejected them.
He said his fear that the detainees could overpower him and the few personnel available influenced his decision not to open the overcrowded cell, despite hearing the detainees scream and shout.
The commission is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the 37 suspected miners, who reportedly died in custody on September 17, 2026. Its work includes examining the handling of the arrests, the detention conditions and the actions of officers before the incident.
Another officer who appeared before the panel was the Head of the NSCDC Investigation Unit, Chief Superintendent of Corps Sunday Oluwadere. He told the commission that he profiled and investigated the arrested miners and handled exhibits connected with the investigation. He also expressed regret over shortcomings in his handling of the matter.
The proceedings have brought attention to the conditions in which the suspects were detained and the response of officials to their distress. However, the commission is expected to establish the facts through evidence from the personnel involved and other relevant witnesses.
The cause of the deaths has yet to be conclusively established in the evidence reported from the inquiry.
Earlier, the Chief Consultant Pathologist at the General Hospital, Minna, Dr Alfa Sule, told the commission that post-mortem examinations were necessary to determine the cause of death.
Sule explained that the examinations required the approval of a coroner, while collecting samples from the deceased for toxicology and histology tests required the consent of their families.
He said the samples would be sent to a forensic laboratory in Lagos for further analysis, with the results expected after the examinations are completed.
The commission’s findings are expected to clarify the circumstances leading to the deaths and determine whether failures in detention procedures or misconduct contributed to the incident.
