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

Investigations have commenced into the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, with authorities seeking to establish what led to the deaths.

The Niger State Government has constituted a committee of inquiry, while the Nigeria Police Force and the NSCDC have launched separate investigations into the incident. Autopsies and forensic examinations are also being conducted to determine the actual cause of death.

The development has also led to the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Federal Government directed that the circumstances surrounding the deaths be thoroughly investigated.

How the deaths occurred

The victims were among scores of people arrested by the NSCDC during enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna on September 15 and 16.

According to the NSCDC, the operation was carried out as part of efforts to curb illegal mining and protect communities and the environment from the effects of unregulated mining activities.

The command later confirmed that some of the detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17.

The NSCDC initially linked the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, but stressed that the actual cause had not been conclusively established.

The bodies were subsequently taken to the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination.

What investigators are looking into

The circumstances surrounding the deaths have raised questions about the condition of the detention facility and the treatment of those arrested.

The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, said possible causes being examined include overcrowding and exposure to hazardous substances associated with illegal mining.

He, however, cautioned against reaching conclusions before the completion of forensic examinations, medical tests and autopsies.

A survivor, Dauda Shehu, told newsmen that detainees were held in what he described as an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell.

He alleged that those inside struggled to breathe before some of them died.

That account has not been established as the official cause of death, and authorities are expected to rely on medical and forensic findings to determine what happened.

Police take over investigation

The Niger State Police Command has also commenced an investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna to take charge of the investigation.

The police said the investigation would seek to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and urged relatives and members of the public with credible information to assist investigators.

NSCDC commandant suspended

The development has prompted action at both state and federal levels.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, ordered a full-scale investigation, while the NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, directed the Niger State Commandant to step aside and report to the investigative panel.

Other senior officers, including heads of operations, mining, legal, intelligence and investigation, were also directed to appear before the panel.

The NSCDC said any personnel found to have breached the law or established professional standards would face appropriate administrative, disciplinary or, where applicable, criminal sanctions.

Niger Government declares mourning

Governor Bago described the deaths as tragic and announced three days of mourning in the state.

The state government also cancelled an APC political rally scheduled for Minna on September 19 following the incident. The governor appealed to residents and youths to remain calm and avoid violence.

Protests follow deaths

The incident has also triggered protests in Minna, with relatives and other residents demanding answers over how the detainees died while in government custody.

Protests broke out following the deaths, while security personnel were deployed as tensions rose.

Amnesty International has called for an independent investigation, particularly into the circumstances of the arrests and the conditions under which the suspects were detained.

The organisation also raised concerns that some of those arrested may have been minors.

The unanswered questions

The incident has now placed the focus on several questions: What caused the deaths? How many people were held in the detention facility? What were the conditions inside the cell? Were the detainees given adequate medical attention? And were proper procedures followed after their arrest?

These are among the issues the various investigations are expected to address.

For now, authorities have not established a definitive cause of death. The suspected disease outbreak cited by the NSCDC remains subject to medical confirmation, while claims of suffocation arising from overcrowding and other possible causes are also being examined.

The outcome of the autopsies, forensic examinations and investigations will therefore be crucial in determining exactly what happened to the 37 detainees and whether any individual or institution bears responsibility.