37 Suspected Illegal Miners Die in NSCDC Custody in Niger

At least 37 people suspected of illegal mining have died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, prompting protests, a government investigation and a 24-hour curfew in the state capital.

The victims were among people arrested during enforcement operations around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, according to reports citing the NSCDC. The circumstances surrounding their deaths have not yet been conclusively established.

The deaths have become one of the most serious incidents involving detainees in Nigeria in recent months, with authorities now examining the arrests, the conditions in which the suspects were held and the medical attention they received.

What happened to the 37 detainees?

The suspected miners were arrested during operations targeting illegal mining activities in Niger State.

According to Anadolu Agency’s account of the NSCDC’s position, some detainees were found dead on Thursday after being held in custody. The state command initially referred to a suspected disease outbreak, but the NSCDC’s national headquarters said the exact cause of death had not been established and warned against assigning a specific cause before medical investigations were completed.

The bodies were taken to Minna General Hospital for medical examination and autopsies. Police also opened an investigation into the deaths.

That distinction is important. The deaths are established, but the precise medical cause remains a matter for investigators and medical authorities.

Questions over detention conditions

Questions have also emerged about the number of people held in the detention facility.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners had been detained in an NSCDC cell before 37 died. The figure has raised questions about the capacity and conditions of the facility.

A survivor identified as Dauda told Anadolu that more than 70 detainees had been held in a poorly ventilated cell and that people inside struggled to breathe. Anadolu reported that NSCDC sources identified overcrowding and inadequate ventilation as possible factors, although these accounts do not establish the official cause of death.

The circumstances are now among the issues being examined by the investigation.

President Bola Tinubu has directed authorities to examine the condition of the detainees when they were arrested, the number of people held in the facility, detention conditions, medical attention and the events leading to the deaths.

Tinubu orders full investigation

President Tinubu on Friday ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths.

In a statement issued by the State House, the president said that people suspected of illegal mining remained entitled to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody.

He also directed that any official whose actions, abuse or negligence are found to have contributed to the deaths should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The president’s directive covers both the circumstances surrounding the arrests and what happened after the suspects were taken into custody.

The State House said the Ministry of Interior and NSCDC leadership had been directed to cooperate with the investigation and ensure that officers did not interfere with the process.

NSCDC command suspended

The NSCDC has also taken administrative action.

The Niger State commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, was suspended pending investigation, according to reporting by Channels Television. Other senior officers connected with operations, mining, legal affairs, intelligence and investigation were directed to report to the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja as part of the inquiry.

The NSCDC said personnel found to have breached the law or professional standards would face appropriate sanctions.

The suspension itself does not establish criminal responsibility. That will depend on the findings of the investigations and any subsequent legal proceedings.

Protests erupt in Minna

News of the deaths triggered protests in parts of Minna.

Channels Television reported demonstrations in areas including Tunga, Maitumbi and Bosso Road, with reports of damage to government property and other disruptions. Security personnel were deployed across parts of the city as authorities attempted to restore order.

Reuters reported that protesters clashed with security forces and that some public buildings were targeted during the unrest. The protests reflected anger over the deaths and demands for answers about what happened to the detainees.

The situation led the Niger State Government to impose a 24-hour curfew across Minna, effective after Friday prayers. Residents were instructed to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movement while security agencies worked to contain the unrest.

Illegal mining remains a wider security issue

The deaths occurred against the backdrop of an ongoing government crackdown on illegal mining.

Niger State contains deposits of gold and other minerals, and authorities have intensified enforcement against unlicensed mining operations. Illegal mining has also been linked by Nigerian officials and security analysts to wider criminal networks and the financing of armed groups.

President Tinubu said the government would continue its fight against illegal mining but stressed that enforcement operations must comply with the law and respect the rights of people in custody.

That creates two separate issues for investigators to address: whether the people arrested were involved in unlawful mining and whether the authorities responsible for their detention properly protected their lives and welfare.

One issue does not determine the other.

What happens next?

The immediate priority is establishing how the 37 detainees died.

Medical examinations and autopsies are expected to provide evidence about the cause of death, while the government and security agencies investigate the conditions surrounding the arrests and detention. Police are also conducting their own investigation.

The findings will be important in determining whether the deaths resulted from illness, detention conditions, individual misconduct, negligence or another cause.

For the families of those who died, the investigation is also likely to be central to demands for accountability.

For now, the confirmed facts are that 37 suspected illegal miners died while in NSCDC custody, protests followed in Minna, authorities have imposed a curfew and multiple investigations are under way.

The cause of the deaths, and whether any officials should face criminal responsibility, remains to be determined by the evidence.