37 illegal mining suspects die in custody in Niger State, Nigeria

September 18, 2026 at 07:52 AM2 min

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Thirty-seven people arrested for suspected illegal mining in Niger State, Nigeria, died in custody at an NSCDC detention facility. Police have launched an investigation, while officials blamed a possible disease outbreak and a survivor cited overcrowding and poor ventilation. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago called the deaths 'sad and tragic' and declared three days of mourning.

Key Facts

37 people died in custody at an NSCDC detention facility in Niger State, Nigeria, after being arrested for suspected illegal mining.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago declared three days of mourning and postponed the start of campaigning for elections scheduled for January.
An NSCDC commander has been detained following the deaths, according to Governor Bago.
A survivor told AP that about 65 people were held in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell, suggesting the dead may have suffocated.
The NSCDC initially said the detainees were possibly victims of a diphtheria outbreak, but later stated the cause had not been established and required medical and laboratory tests.

The Deaths

The suspects were arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday during an operation targeting illegal mining near Borgu, in the mineral-rich state of Niger. Two days later, 37 people detained as part of the suspected unlawful operation were found dead inside the detention centre run by the NSCDC. The NSCDC is a paramilitary agency responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and tackling crimes including illegal mining. The victims' bodies have since been taken to the general hospital in nearby Minna for examination.

Investigation and Reactions

Niger's police chief ordered an immediate investigation into 'the unfortunate death of suspected illegal miners while in the detention facility of the NSCDC', spokesman Wasiu Abiodun wrote in a statement. The NSCDC's national headquarters said the cause had not been established and would require medical and laboratory tests. Some relatives of the deceased have disputed the official explanation, claiming to local media that they were deliberately killed. One father told Nigerian media that his son had appeared healthy when relatives brought him food the day before his death and called for an independent post-mortem examination. Another relative, whose 17-year-old brother was among those who died, said the family had visited him during his detention and questioned how a disease could have killed so many detainees without apparently affecting their guards.