Nigeria, Oct. 30 -- The Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Siyaka Suberu, personally authored and released a statement falsely attributing the deaths of 33 detainees to a "disease outbreak", an investigation committee has found.

The Independent Investigation Committee said the statement was fabricated and intended to cover up the deaths in an overcrowded cell of the NSCDC state command in Minna, Niger State.

The 10-member committee chaired by Jonathan Kure, in its report submitted to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on 27 October, described the statement as an attempt to mislead the public about the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

It said Mr Suberu, who was suspended in th...