Families of suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are demanding answers and an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
A total of 37 detainees died at an NSCDC facility in Niger State, according to authorities. The victims were among 67 people arrested on suspicion of illegal mining activities and held in a single cell. Niger State Governor Umar Bago said the detainees likely died from suffocation, while the NSCDC initially suggested that a disease outbreak could have been responsible. An investigation is now underway to establish the exact cause of death.
The deaths have left families demanding accountability. Lawan Mohammed said his 25-year-old son, Sulieman, a motorcycle mechanic, was arrested while on his way home. Mohammed said he went to the detention facility the following morning to take food to his son, only to be informed that he had died.
Other relatives have also alleged that some of the detainees were beaten and subjected to harsh treatment while in custody. Abdulahi Usman said his son, Usman Whalid, was badly injured before his death and claimed he had evidence on his phone showing the alleged mistreatment. These allegations have not been independently verified and are part of the ongoing investigation.
A survivor, Mubarak Dahiru, described overcrowded and difficult conditions inside the detention facility. He alleged that detainees were denied adequate food and water and were beaten by security personnel during their detention.
The Nigerian government has responded by suspending 20 additional NSCDC personnel and establishing a 10-member committee made up of professionals from the legal, security, mining and medical sectors to investigate the incident. The NSCDC commander in Niger State had previously been suspended.
Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo warned that anyone found attempting to destroy or conceal evidence, intimidate witnesses or obstruct the investigation would face serious consequences.
The incident has also renewed concerns about conditions in Nigerian detention facilities. The National Human Rights Commission reported receiving more than 371,000 complaints involving alleged rights violations in 2025, including unlawful arrest and detention, denial of justice and torture.
Illegal mining remains a major challenge in parts of Nigeria, with authorities linking illicit mining activities in some regions to criminal networks and armed groups. However, human rights advocates have stressed that suspects must be treated lawfully and kept in safe conditions regardless of the allegations against them.
The Nigerian Bar Association has called for a thorough, independent, transparent and credible investigation into the deaths. The findings will be closely watched by the victims’ families, human rights groups and the wider public as questions remain about how 37 people died while in government custody.
Swifteradio.com
