The officer in charge of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) detention facility in Niger State, Assistant Superintendent of Corps (ASC) Usman Isah Ndamaka, told a judicial commission of inquiry that fear of being overpowered by detainees prevented him from opening the cell, despite hearing detainees scream and shout before 37 suspected miners died in custody.
Ndamaka, who broke down in tears while testifying before the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Commission of Inquiry in Minna, admitted that he failed to prevent the tragedy and apologised to the bereaved 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, “I’m pained, and it is very unfortunate it happened. I’m very sorry. I admitted my mistake.”
Explaining the circumstances surrounding the incident, Ndamaka said authorities brought 58 suspects, 33 males and 25 females, to the command, although the detention facility could accommodate only 28 to 30 people.
He said authorities attempted to separate the female detainees from the males by moving them to another facility, but accommodation remained inadequate.
According to him, the suspects arrived late in the evening amid a heavy downpour, making it difficult to accommodate them in the available cells.
Ndamaka also told the commission that efforts to transfer some of the detainees to the old command facility failed after the Mining Marshals rejected them.
He said he was afraid that opening the overcrowded cell could expose him and the available personnel to being overpowered by the detainees.
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 inquiry 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.
