37 Niger miners: I left them screaming until they died, NSCDC ASC admits

The officer answerable for the detention facility of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger state, ASC Usman Isah Ndamaka, has admitted that he heard the screaming of the detained miners over extreme warmth within the overcrowded cell facility in Minna.

Ndamaka said this when he appeared earlier than the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, investigating the dying in custody of the 37 unlawful miners holding in Minna.

Testifying earlier than the fee, Ndamaka mentioned, “Inadequate personnel and fear of being overpowered by the detainees prevented me from opening their cell despite hearing them screaming and shouting amid overcrowding and excessive heat.”

The NSCDC officer, who broke down in tears earlier than the Justice Mohammed Mohammed-led panel, apologising for the dying of the miners within the corps’ custody.

The officer, who admitted duty for the incident, described the deaths as unlucky and apologised to the bereaved households and the Niger state authorities for what he termed a grave mistake that occurred below his watch.

“An error has already been committed. I am very sorry for the death of the miners under my custody. It is unfortunate that this happened under my watch. I am pained, and I admit my mistake,” he advised the fee in an emotional testimony.

Ndamaka defined that 58 suspects, comprising of 33 males and 25 females, have been dropped at the command, whereas the detention facility might accommodate between 28 and 30 inmates.

His testimony has introduced the circumstances contained in the detention facility and the officers’ response to the detainees’ misery to the forefront of the fee’s investigation into the deaths.

The panel is looking for to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths of the 37 suspected miners on September 17, 2026, and to find out whether or not lapses or misconduct contributed to the tragedy.

The Head of the NSCDC Investigation Unit, Chief Superintendent of Corps Sunday Oluwadere, additionally appeared earlier than the fee, telling the panel that he profiled and investigated the arrested miners and seized displays in the course of the investigation, and expressed remorse over shortcomings in how he dealt with the matter.

The fee is inspecting proof from personnel concerned within the arrests, investigation and detention of the suspects as it really works to ascertain what occurred earlier than the deaths.

The reason for dying has but to be conclusively established from the proof reported within the proceedings.

The Chief Consultant Pathologist on the General Hospital, Minna, Dr Alfa Sule, had earlier advised the fee that autopsy examinations have been required to ascertain the reason for dying, explaining that these examinations required the approval of a coroner, whereas the gathering of samples from the deceased for toxicology and histology analyses required the consent of their households.

According to him, the samples could be despatched to a forensic laboratory in Lagos for additional examination, with the outcomes anticipated after the analyses.

The fee’s findings are anticipated to make clear the circumstances surrounding the deaths and set up whether or not any people or establishments bear duty.