- Amnesty demands independent probe
- Niger govt sets up panel, orders autopsy
- NSCDC commandant suspended
- Police begin investigation
- Governor declares three days’ mourning
Tension and anger have gripped Minna, the Niger State capital, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners 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 Minna on September 15 and 16, 2026. The deaths, which were discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, have sparked protests and unrest in parts of the state capital, while authorities moved to calm residents and families of the victims.
The Niger State Government has consequently constituted a committee of inquiry to determine what led to the deaths, while the NSCDC has set up a separate high-powered investigative team. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who confirmed the death toll at 37, also ordered forensic examinations and autopsies on the bodies to establish the actual cause of death.
He described the incident as unfortunate and tragic, saying his administration would get to the root of the matter. The governor also announced a three-day mourning period in honour of the deceased and appealed to residents, particularly youths, to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
The state government has also cancelled the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally scheduled for Saturday, September 19, in Minna, following the tragedy.
How It Happened
The NSCDC Niger State Command said the victims were arrested during what it described as a “burst operation” targeted at illegal mining activities. According to the command, the operation was conducted on September 15 and 16 in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas and resulted in the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of various exhibits.
However, in the early hours of September 17, some of those detained were found dead. The Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, initially attributed the deaths to a suspected outbreak of disease.
He said the bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to determine the actual cause of death. But the NSCDC national headquarters later cautioned against attributing the deaths to any particular disease before medical and laboratory examinations are completed.
The Corps said its investigation would examine the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, how long they remained in custody, the conditions under which they were detained, and the medical attention provided to them.
Survivor Alleges Overcrowding
A survivor of the incident, Dauda Shehu, told the Associated Press that about 65 detainees had been packed into a poorly ventilated cell. Shehu alleged that the detainees struggled to breathe and banged on the cell door in an attempt to attract the attention of guards.
“We were jampacked, and there was no ventilation for us to breathe well,” he was quoted as saying. He said the situation suddenly became critical as detainees scrambled for fresh air. The account has not been established as the official cause of the deaths. The NSCDC has maintained that medical and laboratory examinations are required before the cause can be conclusively determined.
NSCDC Commandant Suspended
As pressure mounted for answers, Governor Bago disclosed that the NSCDC State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and others connected with the incident had been suspended by the NSCDC Commandant-General to allow for a proper investigation.
The governor said the suspension was necessary to enable the authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths without interference. He also said the state government was compiling a register of the families of the deceased and would work with them as the investigation progresses. Bago said the lives of citizens remained valuable to his administration and assured the families that the government would pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.
Three Investigations Underway
Apart from the state government’s committee, the NSCDC national headquarters has constituted a high-powered investigative team headed by its Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation. The team is expected to establish what happened from the point of arrest to the deaths of the detainees.
The Niger State Police Command has also commenced a separate investigation and appealed to relatives of the deceased and other members of the public with relevant information to come forward. The remains have been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, where medical examinations and autopsies are expected to provide further evidence.
Amnesty Demands Independent Probe
Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the deaths, describing the incident as shocking and demanding that the circumstances surrounding the arrests and detention be established transparently. The organisation said the victims, including minors according to its account, were arrested on September 15 and 16 at mining sites around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis.
Amnesty urged the authorities to conduct a prompt, thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigation into how the detainees died after spending between one and two days in custody. It also called for victims’ families to have access to justice and effective remedies, and said anyone found responsible should face appropriate legal consequences.
Families Demand Answers
The deaths have left families searching for answers as they await the release and identification of the bodies. Shafatu Sulaiman, who lost two sons in the incident, appealed to the government to intervene, according to the Associated Press.
Another relative, Aisha Ahmed, also appealed for the release of the bodies of the deceased and demanded that the circumstances surrounding their deaths be fully established.
The development has heightened public concern in Minna, with residents and relatives seeking clarity over how such a large number of people could die within a short period while in official custody.
Mining Crackdown
The arrests were part of an intensified security crackdown on illegal mining in Niger State. Niger is rich in mineral resources and has attracted large numbers of artisanal miners. Illegal mining has also been linked by analysts to wider security concerns in parts of north-central and north-western Nigeria, including the financing of criminal networks.
The government and security agencies have therefore continued to target illegal mining sites and operators. But the Minna deaths have shifted attention from the enforcement operation itself to the treatment and welfare of suspects while in custody. For now, the key question remains what caused the deaths of the 37 detainees.
The Niger State Government, NSCDC and police have all promised investigations, while autopsies and medical examinations are expected to provide crucial evidence. Governor Bago has appealed for calm as the investigations continue, saying the government would ensure that the root cause of the tragedy is established.
