An NSCDC officer has told a judicial commission of inquiry that fear of being overpowered by detainees stopped him from opening an overcrowded cell before 37 suspected miners died in custody in Niger State.
Assistant Superintendent of Corps Usman Isah Ndamaka, who was in charge of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps detention facility, gave the account while testifying before the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Commission of Inquiry in Minna.
Ndamaka broke down in tears as he admitted that he failed to prevent the deaths. He 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,” he told the commission.
He added that he was deeply pained by the incident and accepted responsibility for his mistake.
NSCDC Officer Explains Overcrowding at Detention Facility
Ndamaka said 58 suspects, comprising 33 men and 25 women, were brought to the command. However, the detention facility could accommodate only about 28 to 30 people.
He explained that authorities tried to separate the female detainees from the male suspects by moving the women to another facility. However, the available accommodation remained inadequate.
According to his testimony, the suspects arrived late in the evening during heavy rainfall, making it difficult to find sufficient space for everyone.
He also told the panel that attempts to transfer some detainees to the old command facility failed after the Mining Marshals rejected them.
The officer said he feared that opening the overcrowded cell could expose him and the other available personnel to being overpowered by the detainees.
Despite hearing the detainees scream and shout, he did not open the cell.
His testimony has raised questions about the conditions in which the suspects were held and the response of officers to their distress before the deaths occurred.
Commission Probes Deaths of 37 Suspected Miners
The inquiry is investigating the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths of the 37 suspected miners on September 17, 2026.
The panel is examining whether negligence, procedural failures or misconduct contributed to the tragedy.
Chief Superintendent of Corps Sunday Oluwadere, head of the NSCDC Investigation Unit, also appeared before the commission.
Oluwadere told the panel that he profiled and investigated the arrested suspects and handled exhibits seized during the investigation. He also expressed regret over shortcomings in his handling of the matter.
The commission is gathering testimony from personnel involved in the arrests, investigation and detention of the suspects to establish what happened before their deaths.
Pathologist Says Further Tests Are Needed
The cause of death has yet to be conclusively established based on the evidence reported during the proceedings.
Dr Alfa Sule, Chief Consultant Pathologist at General Hospital, Minna, previously told the commission that post-mortem examinations were necessary to determine how the suspects died.
He explained that the examinations required a coroner’s approval. He also said collecting samples for toxicology and histology tests required consent from the deceased persons’ families.
According to Sule, the samples would be sent to a forensic laboratory in Lagos for analysis. The results are expected to provide further evidence about the circumstances of the deaths.
The commission’s findings are expected to clarify what happened at the detention facility and determine whether any individuals or institutions bear responsibility for the tragedy.