The Federal Government’s independent investigative committee probing the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in NSCDC custody in Minna, Niger State, has secured an additional two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report.
The committee’s chairman, Jonathan Kure, disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, saying the extension was necessary because of the volume of evidence gathered and outstanding forensic and pathology reports.
The committee was initially expected to submit its report on October 7, but the deadline has now been extended to October 21, 2026. The Federal Government has approved the request.
Kure said the panel had made significant progress, including inspecting the NSCDC custody facility and the mining site in Minna, conducting autopsies, and interviewing survivors, relatives of the deceased, NSCDC personnel and other witnesses.
He said the committee was also reviewing documentary and forensic evidence and was awaiting pathology reports considered important to establishing the circumstances and causes of the deaths.
The chairman disclosed that preliminary findings had pointed to institutional gaps and overzealousness by some personnel, while also indicating a need for improved training and professionalism within the security agency. He stressed, however, that the findings were not yet final.
Kure said the additional time would also allow people implicated in the incident, including suspended officers, to respond before the committee reaches its final conclusions.
The investigation was instituted by the Federal Government following the deaths of the miners while in NSCDC custody in Minna. The committee is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, determine responsibility where applicable and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The panel has assured that its final report will be based on evidence and will be submitted after the extended investigation period.
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Security