Tinubu Orders Probe Into 37 Miners’ Deaths in NSCDC Custody

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.

The President said officials found by investigators to have contributed to the deaths through action, abuse or negligence should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The directive comes as authorities investigate what happened to the detainees following enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining activities in Niger State. The deaths have also triggered protests and heightened tensions in Minna.

Tinubu orders investigation into detention conditions

In a statement issued by the State House on Friday, September 18, Tinubu directed investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the arrests and deaths.

The investigation is expected to cover the condition of the detainees when they were arrested, the conditions under which they were held, the number of people detained at the facility, the medical attention provided to them and the events that preceded their deaths.

The President stressed that being suspected of illegal mining does not remove a detainee’s right to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody.

He also said the suspension of officials should not be treated as a substitute for determining whether criminal responsibility exists.

This distinction is important because the investigation is still ongoing. The government has not yet established that any particular official committed a criminal offence.

Cause of deaths remains under investigation

The exact cause of the 37 deaths has not been conclusively established.

Niger State Governor Umaru Bago said forensic, medical and autopsy examinations were being conducted to determine the scientific cause of death. He said investigators were examining several possibilities, including overcrowding and possible exposure to hazardous substances associated with mining activities.

The uncertainty has also been reflected in statements from the NSCDC. Initial explanations reportedly raised the possibility of a disease outbreak, while subsequent official statements said the precise cause remained subject to medical investigation. Reuters also reported that the national NSCDC had not established the cause of death.

A survivor has separately alleged that detainees were held in an overcrowded cell and that a substance was sprayed inside the facility. That account remains an allegation and is part of the broader circumstances investigators must examine.

NSCDC commandant suspended

The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, has been suspended while the investigation proceeds.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered a full-scale investigation, while the NSCDC leadership directed the state commandant to step aside and report to the organisation’s national headquarters. A new commandant was also ordered to take over the state command.

The State House said the administrative suspension should not prevent investigators from determining whether criminal responsibility exists.

If evidence establishes that an official’s conduct contributed to the deaths, Tinubu said the person should face prosecution under the law.

Protests erupt in Minna

The deaths have generated protests in several parts of Minna, including Tunga, Maitumbi and Bosso Road.

Channels Television reported damage to some government property during the unrest, while Reuters reported clashes between protesters and security forces.

The unrest prompted Niger State Governor Umaru Bago to impose a 24-hour curfew across Minna, effective after Friday Jumu’ah prayers and continuing until further notice.

Residents were directed to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary movement, while security agencies were asked to enforce the order and protect lives and property.

The Niger State Government also declared three days of mourning for those who died and cancelled a planned political rally in Minna.

Federal investigation expands

The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has also deployed a team of experts to Niger State to investigate the deaths.

The delegation, led by Permanent Secretary Faruk Yabo, met with Governor Bago and said it would investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and produce a detailed report. The federal team’s work is expected to complement the inquiry already established by the Niger State Government.

The Interior Ministry and NSCDC are conducting their own investigation, while the police and other authorities have also been reported to be examining the incident.

The multiple investigations mean that determining what happened will require authorities to reconcile evidence from the detention facility, medical examinations, witness accounts and official records.

Illegal mining enforcement under scrutiny

The incident has also raised questions about how enforcement operations against illegal mining are conducted.

The Federal Government has maintained that illegal mining and related criminal activity must be tackled. Tinubu, however, said enforcement agencies must operate within the law and respect the fundamental rights of people in custody.

That creates two separate issues for investigators to establish.

The first is whether the detainees were lawfully arrested and detained during the enforcement operation.

The second is what happened after they entered government custody and whether any failure in detention conditions, medical care, supervision or other official conduct contributed to their deaths.

Those questions cannot be conclusively answered by the number of people detained or by the fact that the operation targeted suspected illegal mining. They require evidence from the investigation.

What happens next?

The immediate focus will be on establishing the medical and forensic cause of the deaths and reconstructing the events inside the detention facility.

Investigators will also need to determine how many people were detained, how they were accommodated, what medical assistance was available and whether established procedures were followed.

Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Interior and NSCDC leadership to cooperate with the investigation and ensure that officials do not interfere with the process.

For now, the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC commandant remains an administrative measure. Whether anyone faces criminal charges will depend on the evidence produced by the ongoing investigations.

The government has called for calm as authorities work to establish what caused the deaths and whether any officials should be held legally responsible.