Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, says the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have attracted significant attention locally and internationally.
Bago made the disclosure on Tuesday when he received a delegation of traditional rulers led by the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, at the Government House in Minna.
The governor described the deaths as unfortunate and thanked traditional rulers for their condolence visit and support following the incident.
The 37 victims were among suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations in the Wushishi-Lukoto area of Niger State on September 15 and 16. They were subsequently detained at an NSCDC facility in Minna, where the deaths were recorded.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain under investigation.
Initial accounts differed over what caused the fatalities. The NSCDC initially suggested a possible disease outbreak, while preliminary intelligence cited in international reports pointed to overcrowding and inadequate ventilation as possible factors. Survivors also described difficulty breathing inside the detention cell.
The Federal Government has since inaugurated an independent investigative committee to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths. According to Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the committee is expected to identify the deceased, establish the immediate and remote causes of death, examine the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention, and determine whether relevant laws and human-rights standards were followed.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier ordered a full investigation and said that where evidence establishes criminal responsibility, appropriate prosecution should follow. The NSCDC commandant in Niger State was also suspended pending the investigation.
The incident has generated public concern and protests in Minna, prompting the state government to impose a curfew as authorities moved to restore calm. Police have also secured the scene to preserve evidence for the investigation.
Bago said the state government would continue working with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to maintain peace while the investigation proceeds.
The Etsu Nupe, who led the delegation, described the deaths as tragic and urged all stakeholders involved in mining activities to comply with relevant laws and regulations.
