Tension has gripped 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 people 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 were discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, triggering protests and unrest in parts of the state capital as families and residents demanded answers.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago confirmed the death toll at 37 and ordered forensic examinations and autopsies to establish the cause of the deaths. He also constituted a committee of inquiry to investigate the incident and declared three days of mourning in honour of the deceased.
The governor appealed to residents, particularly youths, to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands. He also announced the cancellation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally scheduled for Saturday, September 19, in Minna.
The NSCDC Niger State Command said the victims were arrested during a “burst operation” targeting illegal mining activities, with scores of suspected illegal miners arrested and various exhibits recovered.
The state commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, initially suggested that the deaths could have been caused by a suspected disease outbreak. However, the NSCDC national headquarters cautioned that no particular cause should be attributed to the deaths until medical and laboratory examinations are completed.
The Corps said its investigation would examine the condition of the detainees when they were arrested, the duration of their detention, the conditions under which they were held and the medical attention provided to them.
A survivor, Dauda Shehu, told the Associated Press that about 65 detainees had been packed into a poorly ventilated cell. He alleged that detainees struggled to breathe and banged on the cell door to attract the attention of guards.
The allegation has not been established as the official cause of the deaths, with authorities awaiting the outcome of medical examinations and autopsies.
Amid growing public pressure, the NSCDC Commandant-General suspended the Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and others connected with the incident to allow investigations to proceed.
The NSCDC national headquarters has also constituted a high-powered investigative team headed by its Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.
The Niger State Police Command has commenced a separate investigation and appealed to relatives of the deceased and members of the public with relevant information to come forward.
Amnesty International has called for an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the deaths. The organisation said some of those arrested were minors and urged authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention and deaths.
Families of the deceased have also demanded answers and called for the identification and release of the bodies. Relatives, including Shafatu Sulaiman, who reportedly lost two sons, appealed to the government to intervene.
The arrests formed part of an intensified crackdown on illegal mining in Niger State. However, the deaths have shifted public attention to the treatment and welfare of suspects while in custody.
Authorities are now awaiting the findings of the various investigations, medical examinations and autopsies to establish what caused the deaths of the 37 detainees.
Governor Bago has assured the families and residents that the state government would pursue the matter to its logical conclusion while urging residents to remain calm.
