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The officer in charge of 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 excessive heat in the overcrowded cell facility in Minna.
Ndamaka stated this when he appeared before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, investigating the death in custody of the 37 illegal miners holding in Minna.
Testifying before the commission, Ndamaka said, “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 before the Justice Mohammed Mohammed-led panel, apologising for the death of the miners in the corps’ custody.
The officer, who admitted responsibility for the incident, described the deaths as unfortunate and apologised to the bereaved families and the Niger state government for what he termed a grave mistake that occurred under 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 told the commission in an emotional testimony.
Ndamaka explained that 58 suspects, comprising of 33 males and 25 females, were brought to the command, while the detention facility could accommodate between 28 and 30 inmates.
His testimony has brought the conditions inside the detention facility and the officers’ response to the detainees’ distress to the forefront of the commission’s investigation into the deaths.
The panel is seeking to establish the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths of the 37 suspected miners on September 17, 2026, and to determine whether lapses or misconduct contributed to the tragedy.
The Head of the NSCDC Investigation Unit, Chief Superintendent of Corps Sunday Oluwadere, also appeared before the commission, telling the panel that he profiled and investigated the arrested miners and seized exhibits during the investigation, and expressed regret over shortcomings in how he handled the matter.
The commission is examining evidence from personnel involved in the arrests, investigation and detention of the suspects as it works to establish what happened before the deaths.
The cause of death has yet to be conclusively established from the evidence reported in the proceedings.
The Chief Consultant Pathologist at the General Hospital, Minna, Dr Alfa Sule, had earlier told the commission that post-mortem examinations were required to establish the cause of death, explaining that these examinations required the approval of a coroner, while the collection of samples from the deceased for toxicology and histology analyses required the consent of their families.
According to him, the samples would be sent to a forensic laboratory in Lagos for further examination, with the results expected after the analyses.
The commission’s findings are expected to clarify the circumstances surrounding the deaths and establish whether any individuals or institutions bear responsibility.
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