Nigeria, Oct. 30 -- Fourteen children were among the 33 detainees who died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, in September, while some of the detainees allegedly arrested for illegal mining were people displaced from their communities by bandit attacks, a government investigation report has found.

The Independent Investigation Committee, constituted by the Federal Ministry of Interior, said the minors were among persons, including men and women, arrested during raids on suspected illegal mining sites on 15 and 16 September.

"Our findings established an authenticated casualty toll of thirty-three (33) deaths in custody; fourteen (14) of whom were verified minors resulting directl...