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Nigerian Officials Investigate Deaths of 37 Illegal Miners in Custody
Confirmed
In Short: Nigerian police launched an investigation after 37 people accused of illegal mining died in custody, with officials blaming a disease outbreak.
Nigerian police have launched an investigation into the deaths of 37 people who were in custody after being arrested for illegal mining in Niger State. The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) initially blamed a disease outbreak for the deaths.
Relatives of those who died protested in Minna, the capital of Niger State, after news of the deaths spread. Angry miners and relatives attacked public institutions and public transport buses, using stones and sticks, before police dispersed them with tear gas.
The NSCDC told the BBC that illegal mining is widespread in Niger State, where artisanal miners often operate in open fields. The agency has been cracking down on illegal mining recently, leading to the arrests.
One father told Nigerian media that his son appeared healthy when relatives took him food the day before his death and called for an independent post-mortem examination. The NSCDC sent the bodies for further medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.
Nigeria's Christian communities have faced sustained targeted violence over the past decade, but the crisis is now affecting all Nigerians, regardless of faith. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria issued an urgent statement condemning the violence and calling for an end to the bloodshed.
What's confirmed
- Nigerian police have launched an investigation into the deaths of 37 people who were in custody after being arrested for illegal mining in Niger State. The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) initially blamed a disease outbreak for the deaths.
- Relatives of those who died protested in Minna, the capital of Niger State, after news of the deaths spread. Angry miners and relatives attacked public institutions and public transport buses, using stones and sticks, before police dispersed them with tear gas.
- The NSCDC told the BBC that illegal mining is widespread in Niger State, where artisanal miners often operate in open fields. The agency has been cracking down on illegal mining recently, leading to the arrests.
- One father told Nigerian media that his son appeared healthy when relatives took him food the day before his death and called for an independent post-mortem examination. The NSCDC sent the bodies for further medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.
- Nigeria's Christian communities have faced sustained targeted violence over the past decade, but the crisis is now affecting all Nigerians, regardless of faith. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria issued an urgent statement condemning the violence and calling for an end to the bloodshed.
What's still developing
- Nigerian officials blame disease outbreak for deaths as survivor suggests they suffocated.
- The suspects were arrested during an operation targeting illegal mining on Tuesday and Wednesday, the head of the NSCDC in Niger State, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, said in a statement.
- Two days later, 37 people detained as part of the suspected unlawful operation were found dead inside the detention centre run by the NSCDC, a paramilitary agency responsible for protecting critical infrastructure and tackling crimes including illegal mining.
- Dalhatu told the BBC that security officers had been pursuing suspected illegal miners in the community for several days before making arrests.
- Niger's police chief ordered an immediate investigation into "the unfortunate death of suspected illegal miners while in the detention facility of the NSCDC", spokesman Wasiu Abiodun wrote in a statement.
- The scramble for gold reserves dug up in illegal mines in Niger state has been blamed for fuelling criminal gang violence, according to officials and experts.
- Much of the gold in the region is trafficked through global supply chains, a 2024 SwissAid report found. 'This is our company': Nigerians show off oil wealth after share-buying frenzy Shell pumped oil through Nigeria pipeline for years despite pollution evidence, documents show 'If you started running, they shot you' - inside Nigeria's growing kidnapping crisis Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.
- Mr Marwa stated that the investigation began with the arrest of three Mexican nationals and seven Nigerians at a forest hideout in Ogun State on 16 May.