At least 37 suspected illegal miners have died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State; their deaths have prompted a police investigation and a separate inquiry by the paramilitary agency into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago announced the deaths on Thursday and described the incident as tragic. He subsequently constituted a committee of inquiry and declared three days of mourning across the state.
The victims were among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations in the state on September 15 and 16. The NSCDC said the detainees were held at its facility in Minna, where several were found dead in the early hours of September 17.
The initial explanation centred on a suspected disease outbreak. However, the NSCDC headquarters has cautioned against assigning a definitive cause before medical and laboratory examinations are completed.
In a statement, the corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, said Commandant-General Ahmed Audi had established a high-powered investigative team to examine the deaths.
The panel will examine the condition of the detainees when they were arrested, their period in custody, the detention environment and the medical attention provided to them.
A separate intelligence report cited by AFP offered another possible explanation. It said preliminary information indicated that overcrowding and inadequate ventilation inside the detention facility might have contributed to the fatalities. That account has not been established as the official cause.
Police have also commenced an inquiry. Niger State Police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun said the state Commissioner of Police directed an immediate investigation into the deaths.
The incident has stirred tension in Minna, with groups of miners and sympathisers reportedly protesting after news of the fatalities emerged. An intelligence report cited by AFP said vehicles and other property were damaged during the unrest.
Niger State is one of Nigeria’s mineral-rich areas and attracts large numbers of artisanal miners, particularly those searching for gold. The sector has also faced persistent security and regulatory challenges.
Officials and experts have linked illegal gold mining in the state to criminal networks that impose levies on miners and demand portions of extracted ore.
Beyond gold, Niger State possesses deposits of lithium, tantalite and copper, minerals increasingly sought for industrial production and clean-energy technologies.
The deaths have therefore placed renewed attention on both the enforcement of mining laws and the treatment of suspects held during such operations.
The NSCDC has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said its investigation would establish the facts surrounding the tragedy. It also directed that the health and welfare of other detainees receive priority while medical examinations and inquiries continue.
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