Protest in Minna as 37 Suspected Illegal Miners Die in NSCDC Custody

Thirty-seven people arrested over alleged illegal mining have died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, prompting investigations by federal and state authorities.

The victims were among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested during NSCDC operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16.

The Niger State NSCDC Command initially said the detainees were found dead in the early hours of Thursday following what it described as a suspected outbreak of disease. However, the corps’ national headquarters said the cause of death had not yet been established and cautioned against attributing the deaths to any particular disease before medical examinations are completed.

The bodies have been taken to Minna General Hospital for medical examinations and autopsies to establish the cause of death. Police in Niger State have also opened an investigation.

While authorities await the outcome of the forensic examinations, questions have emerged over the conditions in which the suspects were held and the medical attention provided to them.

A survivor, identified as Dauda Shehu, told the Associated Press that dozens of detainees were held in a poorly ventilated cell and that those inside began struggling to breathe. He said detainees attempted to attract the attention of security personnel by banging on the cell door.

The account has not established the cause of death, but it has intensified calls for investigators to examine the detention conditions, including the number of people held in the facility, ventilation and the response of officers when detainees became ill.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said possible causes being examined include suffocation resulting from overcrowding and exposure to hazardous chemicals associated with illegal mining. He stressed that it was too early to reach a conclusion before the forensic and medical investigations are completed.


The Federal Government has suspended the NSCDC commandant in Niger State, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending an investigation into the deaths.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The NSCDC has also constituted a high-powered investigative team led by its Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.

According to the corps, the investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the condition of the detainees, the period they spent in custody, the conditions of detention and the medical attention provided to them.

The Niger State Government has separately established a committee of inquiry and ordered forensic examinations and autopsies.

Governor Bago has declared three days of mourning in the state and appealed for calm following protests over the deaths.

Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation into the deaths, urging authorities to establish what happened to the detainees from the time of their arrest until their deaths.

The organisation said the investigation should examine not only the cause of death but also the circumstances of the arrests and the conditions in which the suspects were detained.

The deaths have generated public concern in Minna, with protests reported following the discovery of the bodies. Police used tear gas to disperse protesters on Friday.

For now, the precise cause of the deaths remains unconfirmed.

But with 37 people dying after being taken into government custody, investigators face a central question: what happened inside the detention facility between the suspects’ arrest and their deaths, and were reasonable steps taken to protect their lives when they became ill or distressed?

The findings of the autopsies and investigations are expected to provide answers.