Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, has confirmed that 37 suspected illegal miners died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna.
Bago confirmed the deaths on Thursday during a press conference in Minna, describing the incident as “sad” and “tragic.”
The governor said the state government had constituted a committee of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
He added that the NSCDC Commandant in Niger State, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and his team had been suspended to allow for an unhindered investigation.
“The most important is that people died in the custody of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps. They were detained in their cells, and this morning we woke up to the news that 37 of them had died,” Bago said.
The governor said the official cause of death had not been established, cautioning against drawing conclusions before the completion of forensic and medical investigations.
He said investigators were examining possible causes, including suffocation resulting from overcrowding and exposure to hazardous chemicals associated with illegal mining.
“It could be as a result of suffocation because there were so many in a cell. The second issue could be because of exposure to maybe lead poisoning or other very hazardous chemicals that are used to do the illegal mining,” he said.
Bago said forensic examinations, medical examinations and autopsies were being conducted to determine the scientific cause of the deaths.
He also disclosed that separate investigations were being conducted by the NSCDC, the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services, alongside the committee established by the Niger State Government.
Reports that some of the deceased had peeling skin and were foaming from the mouth with blood were also being examined, the governor said, stressing that no conclusion should be reached until the investigations are completed.
Survivors Recount Ordeal
Survivors of the incident on Friday recounted how they struggled to breathe inside the detention cell before the deaths occurred.
One survivor said 17 detainees were initially locked inside a small room before more people were brought in.
According to him, the detainees complained about the size of the room and the intense heat but remained locked inside.
“They locked us in a very small room. We were 17 in number, then they added more people, and we started complaining that the room was small,” he said.
He alleged that an unidentified substance resembling perfume was sprayed inside the room shortly before the door was locked.
“As they were about to lock the room, they sprayed something that looked like perfume, and the smell started disturbing everyone in the room,” he said.
The survivor said the situation deteriorated as the room became increasingly hot, with detainees pleading for water.
“We pleaded with them to give us water, but they said no one would open the door,” he said.
Another survivor, who requested anonymity, said he survived because he was positioned close to the cell entrance, where he was able to breathe better.
“We were screaming for help,” he said, adding that guards were allegedly told that “people are dying one after the other” but did not initially believe the detainees.
Protest Erupts in Minna
The deaths triggered protests and unrest in Minna, the Niger State capital, with crowds reportedly blocking a major road and attacking a transport depot.
There were also reports that police opened fire to disperse protesters, although it was not immediately clear whether anti-riot ammunition or live rounds were used.
Bago subsequently announced a night-time curfew in Minna as authorities moved to contain the unrest.
He also appealed to youths to remain calm and avoid violence.
“We are calling on all the youths to please stay away from violence. It’s not going to bring back those that have died. It would cost us a lot at the end of the day,” he said.
The governor announced the closure of the illegal mining site in the MiOshishi area, saying mining had been conducted there without appropriate technology and safety equipment.
He said the state government was compiling a register of the deceased to identify the victims and reach their families.
Tinubu Orders Investigation
President Bola Tinubu on Friday ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of the suspected illegal miners detained by the NSCDC following enforcement operations around Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna.
Tinubu said the life of every Nigerian mattered and that no citizen should die in government custody because of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also ordered a full investigation and confirmed the suspension of the NSCDC commander in Niger State.
“A full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” Tunji-Ojo said.
The incident has generated anger among relatives and sympathisers, particularly following accounts from survivors alleging that detainees struggled to breathe in overcrowded cells.
An intelligence report cited by AFP suggested that overcrowding and poor ventilation may have contributed to the deaths, although the circumstances remain subject to official investigation.
A video circulated online purportedly showing the victims showed dozens of bodies of young men, many appearing to be wearing only shorts, lying outside the detention facility. The circumstances surrounding the recording could not independently be established from the available information.
Illegal Mining and Security Concerns
Niger State is rich in mineral resources and attracts large numbers of artisanal miners, including people seeking gold deposits.
The state’s illegal mining sector has also been linked by security experts to violence involving criminal groups and bandits, who reportedly impose levies on miners and demand a share of extracted minerals.
The investigation into the 37 deaths is expected to determine the conditions under which the detainees were held, the immediate and underlying causes of death, and whether any officials or other parties bear responsibility.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm while the forensic, medical and security investigations continue.
