FG Suspends Niger NSCDC Commandant As 37 Suspected Illegal Miners Die In Custody

FG Suspends Niger NSCDC Commandant As 37 Suspected Illegal Miners Die In Custody

The Federal Government has suspended the Niger State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the Corps’ custody in Minna, Niger State.

The suspension was ordered by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on Friday, September 18, 2026, alongside a directive for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The incident occurred after the NSCDC carried out enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining activities in parts of Niger State on September 15 and 16. The operation reportedly focused on the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna, where scores of suspects were arrested and various exhibits recovered.

The deaths were discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, after the suspects had been taken into custody.

The Niger State NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, but the Corps’ national headquarters subsequently cautioned against drawing conclusions about the cause of death before medical and laboratory examinations were completed.

The NSCDC said the bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.

Although early reports put the death toll at 33, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago confirmed that 37 suspected illegal miners had died in custody.

The differing figures reported in the immediate aftermath underscore the importance of the ongoing investigation and medical examination in establishing the definitive number of victims and the circumstances of each death.

Following the incident, NSCDC Commandant-General Ahmed Abubakar Audi ordered the constitution of a high-powered investigative team headed by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.

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The team is expected to investigate the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, the period they spent in custody, the conditions of their detention, the medical attention provided to them and other circumstances that may have contributed to the deaths.

The NSCDC also directed that the health and welfare of all persons still in its custody be given priority, while appropriate measures are taken to protect personnel who may have had contact with the affected detainees.

The Corps said it would refrain from speculating about the cause of the deaths until the outcome of the medical examination is available. It stressed that reports linking the deaths to a particular disease had not been medically or scientifically established.

Meanwhile, police authorities in Niger State have opened a separate investigation into the deaths.

The development has also raised questions about the conditions in which the suspects were detained.

A survivor, Dauda Shehu, reportedly said about 65 detainees were held in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell. He said some detainees struggled to breathe and banged on the cell door in an attempt to attract the attention of security personnel.

A preliminary intelligence account also suggested that overcrowding and poor ventilation may have contributed to the deaths. However, these remain preliminary accounts and have not been established as the official cause of death.

The official explanation that a possible disease outbreak was involved has also come under scrutiny, with authorities stressing that only medical and laboratory examinations can determine whether disease played any role.

Governor Bago has described the incident as tragic and declared three days of mourning in honour of the deceased.

The Niger State Government also postponed an APC campaign rally scheduled for September 19 in Minna following the deaths.

The Federal Government’s decision to suspend the Niger State NSCDC commandant came a day after the Corps announced its internal investigation.

Tunji-Ojo said the commandant would remain suspended while the investigation continued, stressing that the government had a responsibility to protect lives.

The minister also appealed for calm and urged members of the public to remain law-abiding while the investigation is conducted. He expressed condolences to Governor Bago and the families and relatives of the deceased.

The incident has brought renewed attention to the risks associated with illegal mining in Niger State, where artisanal and small-scale mining activities remain widespread.

Niger State is rich in mineral resources and attracts artisanal miners, particularly those involved in gold mining. Authorities have intensified operations against illegal mining because of concerns over environmental damage, unsafe mining practices and links between illicit mining and criminal networks in parts of the country.

However, the immediate focus of the investigations is the deaths in custody and the treatment of the detainees between their arrest and the discovery of their bodies.

The key issues expected to be addressed include the exact number of people who died, their physical condition at the time of arrest, the number of detainees held at the facility, the adequacy of ventilation and other detention conditions, access to medical care, the timeline of events and the precise medical cause of death.

The NSCDC investigation, the police inquiry and the medical examinations are expected to provide a clearer account of what happened and whether any failures occurred in the handling or detention of the suspects.

Until those investigations are concluded, authorities have not established an official cause of death beyond confirming that the detainees died while in NSCDC custody.

FG Suspends Niger NSCDC Commandant As 37 Suspected Illegal Miners Die In Custody