At least 37 suspected illegal miners have died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, sparking protests and calls for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The victims were among suspects arrested during an operation targeting alleged illegal mining activities in the Wushishi-Lukoto area of the state on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a possible disease outbreak, although the exact cause has yet to be established.
However, a survivor of the detention claimed that the suspects were kept in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell, raising concerns that some of the victims may have died from suffocation. Authorities have ordered medical examinations and investigations to determine what actually happened.
The deaths triggered protests in Minna, the Niger State capital, with relatives and other residents demanding answers and justice for the deceased. Security personnel were deployed to contain the unrest.
In response to the incident, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and directed that a full investigation be conducted.
The Niger State Government has also constituted a committee to investigate the incident, while the bodies of the deceased have been taken to the Minna General Hospital for autopsy.
The development has renewed concerns about detention conditions and the enforcement of measures against illegal mining in Niger State, where authorities have intensified operations against unlicensed mining activities.
Investigations are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine whether any officials should be held responsible.
