37 Artisanal Miners Die in NSCDC Custody in Minna, Niger State Amid Dispute Over Cause of Death

 

At least 37 artisanal miners, including teenagers, have died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, following their arrest over alleged illegal mining activities.

The miners were arrested during operations conducted by NSCDC personnel on September 15 and 16, 2026, at locations including the Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Housing Estate and Lukoto village. Some of those arrested were reportedly internally displaced persons from communities in Shiroro Local Government Area.

Niger State Governor Umaru Bago confirmed that 37 people died in the incident and disclosed that the state NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, had been suspended.

NSCDC: Suspected Disease Outbreak

The suspended commandant had earlier said the detainees died following a suspected disease outbreak in the early hours of Thursday.

According to him, the NSCDC operation was part of efforts to tackle illegal mining in the state. He said several suspects were arrested and exhibits recovered, but that some detainees were later found dead.

The NSCDC said the remains were taken to General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to establish the actual cause of death. The corps also cautioned against attributing the deaths to any particular disease before medical and laboratory tests are completed.

Survivor Blames Heat and Overcrowding

However, a surviving detainee, Dauda Shehu, gave a different account, alleging that excessive heat and overcrowding contributed to the deaths.

Shehu claimed that 66 detainees were kept in a single cell, leaving them struggling with extreme heat and inadequate access to water. He said the detainees repeatedly complained about the condition of the cell but received no response.

According to him, some detainees died during the night while others died the following morning.

Seven Others Hospitalised

Seven other detainees were reportedly admitted to the emergency unit of General Hospital, Minna, because of the severity of their conditions. Meanwhile, hospital officials reportedly declined to accept the bodies into the mortuary because the facility had not been officially informed before the remains were brought there.

The incident also sparked protests in parts of Minna, including Maitumbi, Tudun-Natsira, Berger and Tunga, with protesters blocking the road around Flamingo Junction and disrupting traffic.

Families Demand Answers

Relatives of the deceased gathered at the hospital in search of their loved ones, with some bodies later released to families.

A bereaved father identified as Mallam Abdullahi alleged that he had gone to the NSCDC headquarters to seek his son's release and was asked to pay ₦500,000 bail. He said he later returned to the detention facility with food for his son, only to discover that he had died.

Another resident, Babawo Tudun-Natsira, said his 17-year-old younger brother, Salim, was among those who died.

Police and NSCDC Begin Investigation

Both the NSCDC and the Niger State Police Command have launched investigations into the deaths.

The NSCDC Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, ordered a high-powered investigative team led by the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation to determine what happened.

The investigation will examine the condition of the detainees when they were arrested, their period in custody, detention conditions, medical attention provided and other circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The Niger State Commissioner of Police, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, also directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna, to investigate the incident and determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Members of the public with credible information have been urged to assist the investigation.

Cause of Death Yet to Be Established

While the NSCDC has cited a suspected disease outbreak, a survivor has alleged extreme heat and overcrowding as the cause of the deaths. The authorities say medical and laboratory examinations are required to establish what actually caused the deaths.