BREAKING: Overcrowding, extreme heat caused Niger miners' deaths - Probe panel reveals

The independent ministerial committee investigating the recent deaths of 33 persons in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna, Niger State, has established the causes of the deaths of the suspects.

The chairman of the committee, Jonathan Kure, while presenting the report of the investigation to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Tuesday, identified the causes of death to include “overcrowding, unsuitable detention condition, failure of duty of care, inadequate supervision”.

According to the committee, the miners were exposed to extreme heat and dehydration due to overcrowding, which made it difficult for them to breathe and survive.

The committee further said that the operation which led to the arrest of the suspects was without an operational order or approval from the national headquarters of the NSCDC.