On September 15 and 16, 2026, Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, conducted an enforcement operations on suspected illegal mining activities, in the end scores of youths were arrested in connection with illegal mining.
They were kept in custody of the agency in Minna, Niger State.
Many in the state were unaware of the incidents apart from the victims, the families, the Operatives and perhaps few officers.
However, it became the talk of the town on Thursday, September 17, just about 24 and 48 hours after the massive raid and arrest.
37 suspects were found dead in the custody of the NSCDC, this was confirmed by the agency, the Police and the state government.
This is a bizarre incident, not even in the war front were prisoners of war declared dead in custody in a day, this has thrown the entire nation into a mourning mood and bringing out many unanswered questions.
The suspects were arrested during a coordinated operation by the Niger State Command in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis as part of ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining and protect the nation’s natural resources.
Following the development, the Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi directed the constitution of a high-powered investigative team, led by the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation, to immediately look into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The team has been mandated to undertake a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances leading to the deaths, including the condition of the suspects upon arrest, their period in custody, the conditions of detention, medical attention provided, and other relevant circumstances surrounding the incident.
The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination and determination of the actual cause of death.
A statement released and signed by Babawale Afolabi, the Assistant Commandant of Corps National Public Relations Officer, NSCDC stated that the agency is also working with the relevant health authorities and sister security agencies to ensure that appropriate medical and public-health measures are taken.
According to the statement, the NSCDC wishes to clarify that reports attributing the deaths to any specific disease remain subject to medical and laboratory confirmation saying that the agency will refrain from speculation until the outcome of the medical examination is established.
It stated further that the Commandant General has further directed that the health and welfare of all persons currently in custody be given utmost priority, while necessary measures are taken to protect personnel who may have had contact with the affected persons.
Many however believe that this is what is popularly referred to as medicine after death.
It further brought to the fore the conditions of detention facilities nationwide.
In line with the constitution, suspects remains innocent until they are pronounced guilty, even after their conviction, they are still entitled to right to personal dignity, but is this the case with Nigeria detention facilities, the answer is a capital NO and a call for action by way of review.
But for now, the agency has extended its condolences to the families of the deceased and assures them that the circumstances surrounding the incident will be thoroughly investigated and appropriately addressed based on established facts.
It also re-emphasised that while the NSCDC remains resolute in its mandate to combat illegal mining and protect Nigeria’s critical national assets, it also remains committed to upholding the dignity, safety and fundamental rights of every person in its custody.
While the public awaits further details of verified information, the state government has released a preliminary information.
What authorities in Niger State are saying
The State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago in a state broadcast addressed the development and announced some decisions already taken.
According to him, the Niger State Government has set up a committee of inquiry to determine the root cause of the death of the 37 detainees under the NSCDC’s custody.
Furthermore, he revealed that the NSCDC’s Commandant in Niger State has been suspended pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Governor Umaru Bago also revealed that the Department of State Security, Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have also set up their committees to unravel the causes.
The Deputy Governor of Niger State, Comrade Yakubu Garba is to Chair the Committee with Commissioner for Homeland Security, Maurice Magaji as secretary.
Governor Bago stated further that forensic audit and autopsy will be carried out on the victims to know the exact cause of death and consequently take necessary action.
Governor Bago who described the incident as unfortunate and tragic, condoled with the families of all those who lost their lives and reassured them that government will get to the root of the matter.
He said, his government value the lives of its citizens and as such, will not tolerate any kind of injustice and will make sure that the incident is probed to a logical conclusion.
The Governor equally revealed that the State government is taking a register of families of those who lost their lives, and commiserate with them and appeal to them to be patient with the government as his administration will do its best in finding the remote causes.
As a temporary measure, Governor Bago also declared that all illegal mining activities around M I Wushishi mining site is closed and anyone found flaunting the order will be prosecuted while experts from Abuja will be invited to carry out analysis on the site.
In conclusion, the Governor used the medium to appeal to the residents of the state especially the youth to remain calm and not to take laws into their hands and allow authorities concerned to take charge.
However, in spite of the expected reactions from the authorities, the public viewed this development as one incident too many and urged the authorities to use this incident to clean the system.
While welcoming the probe, it is however pertinent to add that it’s about time the activities of illegal mining across Nigeria should be looked into, commentators are already taking a position which one cannot blame them for, the question is who are behind illegal mining in Niger State? Who are these innocent young ‘so-called illegal miners’ working for before they were cut down in their prime? Will this probe achieve any better results than those before it or would it go the way of the more you look the less you see?
The questions are endless and only the authorities can provide an answer, but this time the public demand an honest answer.
