Niger miners died from dehydration in custody, probe panel reveals

The committee set up to probe the deaths of the illegal miners held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Niger State command, says the miners died of dehydration.

Handing in the report to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo in Abuja on Tuesday, the chairman of the committee, Jonathan Kure, said the miners died of acute respiratory failure.

He also corrected the earlier reports that 37 miners died in custódy, saying 33 miners were confirmed dead.

He said the miners collapsed after calling for water and were ignored by the personnel of the NSCDC.

He said the detention room was overcrowded and poorly ventilated.

He said there were no approvals for the arrests and detention of the miners, adding that they were all detained beyond the legally allowed period.

The panel called for a total reform of the NSCDC and compensation for the victims.