Fresh details have emerged following the death of 37 suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Minna, Niger State.
The victims were among scores of people arrested during NSCDC operations against illegal mining in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The deaths were discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, after the suspects had spent between one and two days in custody.
The Niger State NSCDC command initially said the detainees died following a suspected outbreak of disease, although the specific illness was not disclosed.
However, survivors have given a different account of what happened inside the detention facility.
One survivor, Dauda Shehu, said about 65 detainees were packed into a small cell with little or no ventilation and began struggling to breathe.
“We were jam-packed and there was no ventilation for us to breathe well,” Shehu said, according to reports. He also said detainees banged on the cell door and called for help as some began collapsing.
The conflicting accounts have triggered calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Niger State Governor Umar Bago confirmed that 37 people had died in NSCDC custody and described the incident as “sad” and “tragic.” He subsequently announced three days of mourning and said a committee of inquiry had been constituted.
The Federal Government has also suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of a full investigation ordered by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
