Tinubu Orders Full Probe Into 37 Miners’ Deaths in NSCDC Custody

Tinubu Orders Full Probe Into 37 Miners’ Deaths in NSCDC Custody

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation 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, saying the suspension of officers is only an administrative measure and will not replace criminal prosecution where evidence establishes wrongdoing.

The President’s directive followed growing public concern and protests over the deaths, which occurred after the victims were arrested during enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining in parts of Minna.

Tinubu said no Nigerian should lose their life in government custody as a result of negligence, abuse, inhumane treatment or dereliction of duty, stressing that people suspected of illegal mining retain their rights to life, dignity and humane treatment while in custody.

The victims were among scores of people arrested during operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of Minna. The NSCDC said the operation was aimed at enforcing government measures against illegal mining and addressing concerns over mining activities affecting farmland and residential areas.

The NSCDC Niger State Command initially said some of the detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17 following what it described as a suspected disease outbreak.

However, the corps has stressed that the actual cause of death has not been established and that medical and laboratory examinations are required before any conclusion can be reached.

The bodies were taken to the General Hospital in Minna for medical examination and autopsies, while the police and other authorities have commenced separate investigations.

Tinubu directed investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the number of people held at the facility, the detention conditions, medical attention provided to them and the events leading to their deaths.

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He also ordered the Ministry of Interior and NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with all relevant investigative authorities and ensure that no officer interferes with the process.

The President specifically said the suspension of officers involved must not be regarded as a substitute for determining criminal responsibility.

Where investigations establish that an official contributed to the deaths through action, abuse or negligence, Tinubu directed that the person should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

The Federal Government had already suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the incident.

Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo ordered the suspension and directed a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

The NSCDC Commandant-General, Professor Ahmed Audi, also constituted an investigative team headed by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of intelligence and investigation.

The team is expected to examine the condition of the detainees when they were arrested, the period they spent in custody, the conditions under which they were detained and the medical attention they received.

The NSCDC has said it will refrain from speculating on the cause of death until the medical examination is completed.

The controversy has been heightened by accounts from survivors and relatives of the victims.

A survivor identified as Dauda Shehu told the Associated Press that about 65 detainees were packed into a poorly ventilated cell and that those inside struggled to breathe before several people died.

Another survivor alleged that a substance was sprayed inside the cell before people began collapsing.

Those accounts have not established the cause of death, and authorities have not confirmed the allegations. The medical and forensic investigations are expected to determine whether overcrowding, ventilation problems, illness, exposure to a hazardous substance or another factor contributed to the deaths.

The deaths have also prompted calls for an independent investigation from Amnesty International, which said the victims included minors and urged authorities to establish how the detention of the suspects resulted in the deaths.

The organisation called for a prompt, thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigation and said anyone found responsible should face justice.

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The incident has also triggered protests in Minna, with residents and relatives demanding answers over the deaths.

Security forces were deployed as protesters gathered around government and NSCDC facilities. Reports said police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators, while other reports indicated clashes and damage to property during the unrest.

The Niger State Government subsequently imposed a 24-hour curfew in Minna following the protests and reported destruction of public and private property.

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago also suspended mining activities across the state as part of measures announced in response to the incident and wider security concerns.

The governor had earlier declared three days of mourning for the victims and constituted a committee of inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Bago said the committee would work with medical and forensic experts to establish what happened, cautioning against reaching conclusions before the completion of the examinations.

The state government is also compiling information on the deceased to assist with identification and contact with their families.

The Nigeria Police Force has opened a separate investigation into the deaths.

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has visited Niger State as part of efforts to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. The police have urged relatives of the deceased and members of the public with credible information to cooperate with investigators.

The Federal Government has also deployed a team to Niger State to assist with the investigation.

The tragedy has raised broader concerns about custodial conditions, detention procedures and accountability within security agencies, particularly where suspects are detained during enforcement operations.

The incident has also renewed debate about the enforcement of the government’s campaign against illegal mining.

Authorities have intensified operations against unlicensed mining in several parts of Nigeria, citing environmental degradation, destruction of farmland and concerns that illegal mining networks can provide financial support to armed criminal groups.

The Tinubu administration has maintained that the fight against illegal mining will continue, but the President has stressed that enforcement agencies must operate within the law.

He said the government must not allow the pursuit of one form of illegality to create another violation.

The President’s position is that suspected illegal miners must be subjected to due process and humane treatment regardless of the allegations against them.

Meanwhile, the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unresolved.

The NSCDC’s initial reference to a suspected disease outbreak has not been established as the cause, while survivor accounts have raised questions about overcrowding and ventilation.

There have also been allegations of exposure to an unidentified substance, but these remain unverified.

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

The tragedy has also prompted calls for the identities and detention records of the victims to be made public and for families to receive appropriate support if wrongdoing is established.

President Tinubu has extended condolences to the families of the deceased and appealed for calm, assuring affected communities that the Federal Government will pursue the truth and take appropriate action based on credible evidence.

The President has made clear that the suspension of the NSCDC commandant is not the final step.

If the investigations establish criminal responsibility, those found culpable are expected to face prosecution, while the findings could also lead to further administrative or institutional measures concerning NSCDC detention practices and the treatment of suspects in custody.

Tinubu Orders Full Probe Into 37 Miners’ Deaths in NSCDC Custody