The deaths of dozens of suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State have triggered separate investigations by the police and the Corps, with the Federal Government ordering a transparent probe into the incident.
The suspects were arrested during enforcement operations conducted by the Niger State NSCDC Command around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16, 2026, as part of efforts to curb illegal mining. The detainees were later found dead at an NSCDC detention facility in Minna in the early hours of September 17.
While initial reports put the number of dead at 33, subsequent reports have cited higher figures. The NSCDC confirmed the deaths but said the actual cause had not been established. The bodies were deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination and further investigation.
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The NSCDC Commandant-General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has directed the constitution of a high-powered investigative team led by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.
The panel is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths, including the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, their period in custody, detention conditions and the medical attention provided to them.
The Niger State Police Command has also commenced a separate investigation. Commissioner of Police Adamu Elleman directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Minna, to take charge of the probe and establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The police have appealed to relatives of the deceased and members of the public with credible information to come forward to assist the investigation.
The development has also prompted action from the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who ordered a full and transparent investigation and suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of the probe.
The cause of death remains undetermined. Although the Niger State NSCDC Command had initially referred to a suspected disease outbreak, the national headquarters said any conclusion about the cause would be subject to medical and laboratory confirmation.
The incident has generated public concern and protests in Minna, with authorities urging residents and families of the victims to remain calm and allow the investigations to proceed.
Meanwhile, the Niger State Government has constituted its own committee of inquiry and ordered forensic examinations and autopsies to establish the exact cause of the deaths.
