How 37 Suspected Illegal Miners Died in NSCDC Custody — Survivors Recount Ordeal
The deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State have triggered a government investigation after survivors described severe overcrowding and desperate attempts to get fresh air inside the detention facility.
The victims were among people arrested during anti-illegal mining operations around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026. Their deaths were discovered at the NSCDC facility in Minna on September 17.
One survivor, Dauda Shehu, told journalists that detainees were packed into the cell and struggled to breathe because of inadequate ventilation. He said those inside repeatedly raised alarms and banged on the cell door after some detainees began experiencing breathing difficulties.
Another survivor alleged that detainees had complained about the size and heat of the room before an unidentified substance was sprayed inside. He said people subsequently began falling down. The allegation has not been independently established and remains part of the investigation.
The Niger State Government has said the scientific cause of the deaths has not yet been established. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago said investigators were considering several possibilities, including suffocation resulting from overcrowding and exposure to hazardous substances associated with mining activities. Forensic and medical examinations were ordered to establish what happened.
The Federal Government initially suspended Niger State NSCDC Commandant Suberu Siyaka Aniviye and subsequently directed the suspension of 20 officers linked to the incident pending the investigation. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo also constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the arrests, detention and circumstances surrounding the deaths. The committee has two weeks to submit its report.
The incident has also generated protests and unrest in Minna, prompting authorities to impose a curfew as officials appealed for calm.
What This Means for Nigerians
The incident has raised serious questions about how suspects are detained and treated while in government custody. Regardless of the allegations against those arrested for illegal mining, the circumstances surrounding their deaths are now subject to official investigation.
For the families of the victims, the investigation is expected to provide answers about what happened inside the detention facility and establish responsibility where wrongdoing is found.
Until the medical and independent investigations are completed, the precise cause of the 37 deaths should not be presented as conclusively established.