Tension and protests have erupted in parts of Minna, the Niger State capital, 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 carried out by the NSCDC around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of the state on September 15 and 16, 2026.
Protests were reported in areas including Tunga, Maitumbi and Bosso Road, as residents and relatives of the deceased demanded answers over the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Security personnel have been deployed across parts of the state capital to contain the situation and prevent further breakdown of law and order.
The NSCDC initially said some of the detainees were found dead in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, following a suspected disease outbreak.
However, the Corps’ national headquarters later clarified that the actual cause of death had not been established, stressing that no particular disease could be blamed for the deaths until medical and laboratory examinations were completed. The remains were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for examination and autopsy.
Meanwhile, allegations of physical assault, overcrowding and poor detention conditions have emerged from witnesses and survivors. SaharaReporters quoted witnesses as alleging that some detainees were beaten while in custody and that more than 60 people were held in an overcrowded cell before the deaths. These allegations have not been independently established.
The Niger State Government has constituted a committee of inquiry to investigate the incident, while forensic examinations and autopsies have been ordered to establish the scientific cause of death.
The Federal Government has also suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago confirmed the death of the 37 detainees and described the incident as tragic. He also declared three days of mourning in the state.
The police have separately commenced an investigation, while rights groups, including Amnesty International, have called for an independent, impartial and transparent investigation into the deaths and the conditions under which the suspects were detained.
The cause of the deaths remains under investigation. Authorities have urged residents and relatives of the victims to remain calm as efforts continue to establish what happened inside the NSCDC detention facility.
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