37 Suspected Illegal Miners Die in NSCDC Custody as Tinubu Orders Independent Probe

The Nigerian government has launched an independent investigation into the deaths of 37 people who were being held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, after they were arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining.

The deaths were discovered on September 17, after dozens of suspected miners had been detained following enforcement operations around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said 67 people had been detained at the NSCDC facility, with 37 later found dead.

The exact cause of the deaths has not yet been established.

Federal Government Suspends 21 NSCDC Personnel

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered a full, transparent and unhindered investigation into the incident.

Following the directive, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

A total of 21 NSCDC personnel have now been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. The list includes the Niger State commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, as well as officers involved in the arrest, investigation, legal processing and supervision of the detainees.

The government said the suspended officers would remain away from their duties while the independent committee carries out its work.

The committee has been given two weeks to complete its investigation and submit its report.

Questions Over Conditions Inside the Cell

The deaths have raised serious questions about the conditions under which the detainees were held.

A survivor, Dauda Shehu, told journalists that a large number of detainees were packed into the cell and that ventilation was inadequate.

He alleged that detainees struggled to breathe and called for help before some people began dying.

The allegations have not been independently established, and investigators are expected to determine whether overcrowding, ventilation problems, illness, exposure to hazardous substances or other factors contributed to the deaths.

Governor Bago has said possible suffocation from overcrowding and exposure to hazardous substances associated with mining activities are among the issues being examined.

The NSCDC initially suggested that a disease outbreak could have been responsible, but authorities have stressed that the actual cause remains subject to investigation.

Protests Erupt in Minna

The deaths triggered protests in Minna, with demonstrators demanding answers and accountability.

Security forces were deployed as tensions rose, and authorities imposed a curfew in the state capital following clashes during the protests.

The incident has generated widespread public concern because the victims died while in government custody.

Tinubu said that being suspected of illegal mining did not remove the detainees' right to life or humane treatment.

The President also said the investigation must establish what happened from the point of arrest through detention and the events leading to the deaths.

What Nigerians Are Saying on X

The incident has generated strong reactions on X, with many users demanding accountability from the authorities.

Some posts questioned how 37 people could die while in the custody of a government security agency and called for those responsible to face consequences.

Other users focused on the age of some of the victims and questioned why young people were involved in illegal mining instead of being in school or employed.

Peter Obi also reacted publicly on X, saying the deaths demanded urgent answers and accountability. He argued that people arrested as suspects remained entitled to humane treatment while in government custody.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has also called for an independent investigation and questioned the roles of the federal authorities responsible for the mining and interior-security operations.

Some individual posts on X have gone further, alleging deliberate wrongdoing or a cover-up. Those claims remain unverified and have not been established by the ongoing investigation.

Government Promises Accountability

The Federal Government has said the suspension of the NSCDC personnel is not a substitute for justice.

The independent committee includes representatives from security and government institutions as well as members of civil society, the mining sector, the legal profession and the media.

It has been given access to relevant facilities and documents and may invite additional experts where necessary.

The Northern Senators Forum has also called for an independent investigation and autopsies, while urging a nationwide review of detention facilities operated by security agencies.

For now, the central question remains unanswered: what exactly caused the deaths of the 37 detainees?

The independent investigation is expected to provide the evidence needed to establish what happened and determine whether anyone should face disciplinary or criminal proceedings.

Key Facts

• 37 suspected illegal miners died while in NSCDC custody in Minna, Niger State.

• The detainees were arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining.

• Niger State officials said 67 people had been detained at the facility.

• The exact cause of death has not yet been established.

• President Tinubu ordered a full and transparent investigation.

• A 10-member independent committee has been constituted.

• 21 NSCDC personnel have been suspended pending the investigation.

• Protests broke out in Minna following the deaths.

• Survivors have raised concerns about overcrowding and ventilation.

• Claims of deliberate killing or a cover-up circulating on social media have not been established.

Sources

State House, Abuja
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps
Niger State Government
Reuters
Associated Press
Channels Television
The PUNCH
Vanguard
Gazette Nigeria