Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has announced the immediate suspension of the state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, following the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the agency’s custody in Minna.
The governor made the announcement while briefing the public on the tragedy. He confirmed that the victims died while detained by the NSCDC after being arrested during enforcement operations against illegal mining on September 15 and 16, 2026. The bodies were discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, inside an NSCDC detention facility in the state capital.
Bago described the incident as deeply sad and tragic, stressing that human life remains sacred irrespective of the circumstances of the arrests. He said a formal investigation had been launched to establish exactly what happened and that the state Commandant and others connected to the matter had been suspended with immediate effect.
The suspects were among those rounded up during coordinated operations in areas including the Mohammed Inuwa (M.I.) Wushishi Housing Estate and Lukoto village. Some of the deceased were reportedly young men and teenagers, with a number said to be internally displaced persons from communities in Shiroro Local Government Area.
Authorities have not yet determined the precise cause of death. The NSCDC initially linked the fatalities to a suspected disease outbreak, while other preliminary accounts have raised questions about overcrowding, poor ventilation, possible suffocation, or exposure to harmful substances associated with mining activities.
The remains have been deposited at the General Hospital in Minna for medical examination and laboratory confirmation. Officials have emphasised that no definitive cause has been medically established.
In addition to the state-level action, the NSCDC national headquarters has constituted a high-powered investigative team, headed by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.
The team is examining the condition of the suspects at the time of arrest, the period they spent in custody, detention conditions, medical attention provided, and all other relevant circumstances. Niger State Police have also opened a parallel investigation.
Governor Bago further declared three days of mourning for the victims and cancelled the All Progressives Congress (APC) political rally that had been scheduled for Saturday, September 19, in Minna. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and appealed for calm.
The incident has generated widespread public concern, with families and residents demanding clear answers.
Groups of miners and sympathisers have staged protests in parts of Minna, during which some vehicles and property were damaged. Authorities have urged the public to remain peaceful and allow the medical examinations and multiple investigations to run their course so that the full circumstances can be established and any responsibility determined.
Niger State, which is rich in mineral resources including gold, has faced persistent challenges with illegal artisanal mining. Security agencies have intensified enforcement in recent periods, but the mass deaths in custody have prompted heightened scrutiny of detention standards and operational procedures.
Further updates are expected once the official autopsy results and the findings of the various probes are released.