Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State.
The deaths followed enforcement operations conducted around the Lt. Gen. Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate and other areas of Minna on September 15 and 16, 2026, as authorities intensified efforts to tackle illegal mining activities.
The exact number of people who died has been reported differently by authorities and media organisations as investigations continue. The NSCDC initially confirmed the deaths of several detainees, while subsequent reports from Premium Times, Associated Press and other outlets put the reported death toll at 37. The cause of death has also not been conclusively established.
In a statement issued on Friday, September 18, by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu described the deaths as a grave matter requiring urgent investigation and accountability.
Tinubu Demands Transparent Investigation
President Tinubu directed relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation covering the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, their detention conditions, the number of people held at the facility, the medical attention provided and the events that preceded the deaths.
The President said being suspected of illegal mining did not remove the detainees’ rights to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody.
He further directed the Ministry of Interior and NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with investigators and ensure that no official interferes with the process.
Tinubu also warned that administrative measures alone would not be sufficient if an investigation establishes criminal responsibility.
According to the presidential statement, any official found to have contributed to the deaths through abuse, negligence or other actions should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Deaths Occurred After Illegal Mining Enforcement Operation
The detainees were among people arrested during NSCDC enforcement operations targeting suspected illegal mining activities in Niger State.
Punch reported that the operations were carried out in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16. The suspects were subsequently held at an NSCDC facility in Minna, where the deaths were discovered in the early hours of September 17.
The operation was part of wider government efforts to clamp down on illegal mining, an activity that has remained a major concern for Nigerian authorities because of its environmental, economic and security implications.
However, the deaths in custody have shifted attention from the enforcement operation itself to the conditions under which the suspects were detained and the response of officials responsible for their welfare.
Cause of Death Remains Under Investigation
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain the subject of investigation.
The Niger State NSCDC command initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak. However, the NSCDC national headquarters subsequently said the cause had not been established and that claims linking the deaths to a particular disease required medical and laboratory confirmation.
The Associated Press reported that officials had referred to a possible disease outbreak, while a survivor alleged that detainees had been held in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell and may have struggled to breathe. The news agency reported that the bodies were sent for autopsy to help establish the actual cause of death.
The Guardian also reported accounts from survivors describing severe conditions inside the detention facility, although such accounts remain part of the evidence that investigators must assess rather than established findings.
Until medical examinations and the official investigation are completed, claims about the precise cause of death should not be treated as conclusive.
NSCDC Had Already Begun Investigation
Before the President’s directive, the NSCDC had announced an internal investigation into the incident.
The corps said its Commandant-General, Ahmed Audi, had constituted a high-powered investigative team led by the Deputy Commandant-General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation.
The panel was tasked with examining the circumstances leading to the deaths, including the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, the period they spent in custody, detention conditions and medical attention provided to them.
Following the development, the Niger State NSCDC commandant was directed to step aside and report to the corps’ national headquarters in Abuja to appear before the panel of inquiry.
The Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, also ordered a full-scale investigation into the deaths.
These measures mean that multiple levels of government are now examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Federal Government Deploys Additional Investigation Team
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has also deployed a high-powered team to Niger State to investigate the deaths.
Alake said the team would examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and establish the facts.
The ministry’s intervention reflects the connection between the incident and the Federal Government’s broader campaign against illegal mining across Nigeria.
The government’s challenge is therefore twofold: enforcing laws against illegal mining while ensuring that enforcement agencies operate within the law and protect the rights of people placed in their custody.
Reports Put Death Toll at 37
The number of deaths has been reported with some variation as the situation developed.
Earlier reports indicated that at least 33 suspected illegal miners had died in custody. Later reports from Premium Times and international news organisations put the number at 37.
The variation underscores the importance of an official accounting of everyone arrested during the operation, everyone detained at the facility and everyone who died.
President Tinubu’s directive specifically requires investigators to establish the number of people held at the facility and examine the events leading to each death.
A definitive figure should therefore come from the ongoing investigation and official records.
Minors Reportedly Among the Dead
The incident has also generated particular concern because reports indicate that some of those who died were minors.
Associated Press reported that the victims included young people, while Amnesty International called for an independent investigation into the deaths and specifically raised concern that minors were among those who died.
Amnesty International said the investigation should be prompt, thorough, independent, impartial, transparent and effective.
The organisation’s intervention adds pressure for authorities to establish not only what caused the deaths but also how minors came to be among those detained during the enforcement operation.
Those questions remain subject to investigation.
Protests Follow Deaths in Minna
The deaths have also triggered public anger in Minna.
Reuters reported that protests erupted following the deaths, with authorities imposing an overnight curfew after clashes. The report said protesters confronted security forces amid anger over the deaths of the detainees.
Associated Press also reported that police used tear gas to disperse protesters who demanded answers over the deaths.
The protests have added urgency to calls for a transparent investigation, while the Federal Government has appealed for calm.
President Tinubu extended condolences to the families and communities affected and urged them to remain calm while the investigation proceeds.
Illegal Mining Remains a Major Government Concern
The incident occurred against the background of an intensified national campaign against illegal mining.
Nigeria has significant deposits of gold and other solid minerals, but illegal and poorly regulated mining has created serious environmental, economic and security concerns.
Government agencies have repeatedly linked illegal mining to environmental degradation, loss of government revenue and, in some areas, criminal networks.
The Federal Government has therefore continued to conduct enforcement operations against individuals and organisations suspected of violating mining regulations.
However, the deaths in Minna have highlighted the need for enforcement agencies to balance the fight against illegal activities with legal protections for suspects in custody.
Tinubu’s directive explicitly reinforces that position, stating that enforcement operations must be conducted within the law and with respect for fundamental rights.
Rights and Accountability at the Centre of the Investigation
The central question now facing investigators is not whether the government should enforce laws against illegal mining, but whether the enforcement operation and subsequent detention were conducted in accordance with Nigerian law and basic standards of humane treatment.
The President has made clear that the government’s campaign against illegal mining should continue.
At the same time, he has directed investigators to determine whether any official action, negligence, abuse or failure of duty contributed to the deaths.
This distinction is important because suspicion of illegal activity does not amount to a criminal conviction.
People detained by the state remain entitled to lawful treatment while their cases are investigated.
What Happens Next?
The immediate priority is for investigators to establish a clear account of what happened from the time the suspects were arrested until the deaths were discovered.
The investigation is expected to examine arrest records, the number of detainees, detention conditions, medical care, the actions of officials and the sequence of events preceding the deaths.
Medical and laboratory investigations will also be important in determining the cause of death.
President Tinubu has directed the Ministry of Interior and NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with the relevant investigative authorities.
If investigators establish that officials contributed to the deaths through criminal conduct, abuse or negligence, the President has directed that those responsible should face prosecution.
The Federal Government will also have to address the wider concerns raised by families, survivors, rights groups and communities affected by the incident.
For now, the precise cause of the deaths, the final number of victims and the question of individual responsibility remain matters for investigation.
The Minna deaths have placed renewed focus on both Nigeria’s fight against illegal mining and the responsibility of government agencies to protect people in their custody.
The outcome of the investigations will be critical in establishing what happened and determining whether any officials should face disciplinary or criminal proceedings.
Sources
- The State House, Abuja
- Reuters
- Associated Press
- Channels Television
- Premium Times
- Punch
- The Guardian
- Voice of Nigeria
- Amnesty International
- TheCable
