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, following their arrest during enforcement operations against illegal mining activities.
The deaths occurred shortly after the suspects were apprehended in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State during operations carried out on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The incident has prompted investigations by both the NSCDC and the Niger State Police Command as authorities seek to establish what led to the deaths.
The Niger State NSCDC Command initially said some of the detained suspects were discovered dead in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, amid what it described as a suspected outbreak of disease.
However, the Corps’ national headquarters has cautioned against drawing conclusions about the cause of death before medical and laboratory examinations are completed.
According to the NSCDC National Public Relations Officer, ACC Babawale Afolabi, the Commandant-General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has ordered the immediate establishment of a high-powered investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The investigative panel, headed by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation, is expected to examine several aspects of the case, including the physical condition of the suspects when they were arrested, the period they spent in detention, the conditions under which they were held and the medical attention available to them while in custody.
The NSCDC said the remains of the deceased have been taken to the General Hospital in Minna for medical examination and determination of the actual cause of death.
The Corps stressed that reports linking the deaths to a particular disease have not been medically confirmed.
It said it would therefore avoid speculation until the outcome of the medical and laboratory investigations becomes available.
The development followed what the Niger State Command described as a “burst operation” targeting suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis.
During the operation, security personnel arrested scores of individuals suspected of engaging in illegal mining and recovered various exhibits.
The enforcement exercise was part of intensified efforts by the state command to tackle illegal mining and protect mineral resources in the state.
The deaths were reportedly discovered less than two days after the arrests, raising concerns over the circumstances surrounding the detention of the suspects.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, subsequently confirmed that 37 suspected illegal miners had died while in NSCDC custody.
Following the incident, the state government announced the cancellation of an All Progressives Congress (APC) political rally scheduled to hold in Minna on Saturday, September 19.
The governor also declared a three-day mourning period in honour of those who died and expressed condolences to their families.
The Niger State Command of the NSCDC has appealed for calm, urging relatives of the deceased and members of the public to avoid actions that could lead to a breakdown of law and order while investigations continue.
The Corps has also directed that the health and welfare of other persons still in custody be given priority. It said additional measures were being taken to protect NSCDC personnel who may have come into contact with the affected detainees.
Beyond the NSCDC investigation, the Niger State Police Command has also commenced a separate inquiry into the deaths.
The state Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The police also appealed to relatives and members of the public who may have credible information about the incident to assist investigators.
The conflicting early descriptions of the incident have made the ongoing medical examination particularly important.
While the Niger State NSCDC Command initially referred to a suspected disease outbreak, the national headquarters has maintained that no specific cause has been established.
Reports from other sources have also raised questions about the detention conditions, but such accounts remain subject to investigation and have not been established as the official cause of the deaths.
AFP reported that an intelligence assessment had raised overcrowding and poor ventilation as a possible factor, while noting that the bodies were being examined to determine the cause of death.
The incident has therefore shifted attention from the arrests themselves to the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the detainees and the conditions under which they were held.
The NSCDC said it remains committed to enforcing laws against illegal mining and protecting Nigeria’s natural resources, while stressing that the rights, safety and dignity of persons in its custody must also be protected.
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to rely on medical findings, evidence from the detention facility and information from relevant security and health agencies to establish what happened to the suspects between their arrest and the discovery of the deaths.