NSCDC Launches Investigation Into Deaths Of Miners In Niger Custody

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has opened a high-level investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners who were arrested and detained during enforcement operations in Niger State.

The suspects were apprehended during coordinated operations carried out by the Niger State Command around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16, 2026, as part of efforts to tackle illegal mining activities in the state.

The deaths were discovered in the early hours of Thursday at an NSCDC detention facility in Minna. Initial reports indicated that at least 33 of the detained miners had died, while subsequent reports put the number at about 40.

The development has raised questions about what happened to the suspects between the time they were arrested and when the deaths occurred, prompting the NSCDC national leadership to order a detailed investigation.

The Niger State Commandant of the Corps, Suberu Aniviye, had initially linked the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak. However, the NSCDC headquarters said it was too early to establish the cause of death, stressing that any claim about a specific disease would have to be supported by medical and laboratory examinations.

The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, subsequently directed the establishment of a high-powered investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The team, which will be led by the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation, has been instructed to establish what occurred before and after the miners were taken into custody.

The investigation will examine the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, the period they spent in detention, the conditions under which they were held and the medical attention they received while in custody.

The team is also expected to examine other circumstances that may have contributed to the deaths and establish the facts surrounding the incident.

The Corps said the health and welfare of other persons still being held in custody had been prioritised following the incident. It also said measures were being taken to protect NSCDC personnel who may have come into contact with the affected detainees.

NSCDC spokesman, Babawale Afolabi, said the Corps would not speculate on the cause of the deaths until the outcome of medical examinations was known.

He said the investigation would be comprehensive and that the circumstances surrounding the deaths would be addressed on the basis of established facts.

The Corps also expressed condolences to the families of those who died and assured them that the circumstances surrounding the incident would be thoroughly investigated.

The incident comes amid continued government efforts to combat illegal mining, particularly in areas where unauthorised mining activities have become a security and environmental concern.

For now, the investigation is expected to determine not only the confirmed number of people who died but also what happened during their detention and whether adequate medical care and other necessary measures were provided before the deaths occurred.

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