Video: Tension In Minna As 37 Suspected Illegal Miners Die In NSCDC Custody
Tension has reportedly risen in Minna, Niger State, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The victims were among scores of persons arrested during enforcement operations against illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of the state on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The Niger State NSCDC Command said the detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17, attributing the deaths initially to a suspected disease outbreak. However, the Corps said the actual cause of death had yet to be established and that the bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination.
Survivors and relatives of some of the deceased have raised questions over the circumstances of the deaths. One survivor, Dauda Shehu, told the Associated Press that about 65 detainees were held in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell and struggled to breathe before some of them died. His account has not been established as the official cause of death.
The NSCDC national headquarters has constituted a high-powered investigative team to determine what happened, including examining the condition of the suspects when arrested, their period in custody, detention conditions and medical attention provided.
The Niger State Police Command has also commenced a separate investigation into the incident.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has declared three days of mourning and ordered an inquiry into the deaths. The Federal Government has also suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of the investigation.
A video showing the aftermath of the incident and relatives seeking answers has circulated online, intensifying calls for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Authorities have urged the public to remain calm while investigations and medical examinations continue.
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