Niger: 37 Suspected Illegal Miners Die in NSCDC Custody as Federal Probe Begins

The deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State have prompted a federal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The victims were among people arrested during enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining activities in parts of the state on September 15 and 16. Their deaths were discovered at an NSCDC facility in Minna in the early hours of Thursday.

The NSCDC initially suggested that a suspected disease outbreak may have been responsible for the deaths. However, the Corps’ national headquarters later cautioned that the actual cause had not been established and said it would be premature to link the deaths to any particular disease before medical and laboratory examinations are completed.

The Federal Government has since suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of a full investigation.

The NSCDC has also established a high-powered investigative team to determine what happened to the detainees. The inquiry is expected to examine their condition at the time of arrest, the length of their detention, the conditions in which they were held and the medical attention they received while in custody.

Authorities in Niger State have said forensic and medical examinations, including autopsies, are being pursued to establish the cause of death. The findings are expected to provide evidence that could clarify whether the deaths were linked to illness, detention conditions or other factors.

The incident has sparked protests in Minna as concerns grow over the deaths of the detainees while in government custody. The Federal Government has said anyone found responsible will face accountability.

For now, the cause of the deaths remains officially undetermined, with investigators expected to establish what happened to the 37 detainees and whether any failures contributed to the tragedy.