Thirty-seven persons arrested over suspected illegal mining have died in custody in Niger State.
The victims were among those arrested on Tuesday during a raid on artisanal mining sites near Borgu Local Government Area. By Thursday morning, 37 of them were found dead inside a cell operated by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago confirmed the incident on Thursday. He described the development as painful, announced the detention of the commander in charge of the facility, declared three days of mourning and postponed activities scheduled for the commencement of campaigns for the January elections.
The NSCDC had initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak. However, its national headquarters later clarified that the cause of death is yet to be ascertained, saying medical and laboratory investigations are ongoing.
Contrary accounts have blamed the condition of the detention facility. According to a report by AFP, which cited intelligence sources, the deaths may have been caused by overcrowding and poor ventilation. The Associated Press also quoted a survivor as saying about 65 persons were held in a congested and poorly ventilated cell.
Relatives of the deceased have questioned the disease explanation. One father said his son appeared healthy when food was taken to him a day before the incident, while another, whose 17-year-old brother was among the victims, wondered why officials who had contact with the detainees did not show symptoms.
The Niger State Police Command said it has commenced investigation into the incident. The command’s spokesman, Wasiu Abiodun, said the Commissioner of Police ordered a probe into the deaths.
The bodies of the victims have been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for autopsy.
Niger State is endowed with large gold deposits, but the activities of illegal miners have been linked by officials and experts to rising banditry in the area. A 2024 report by SwissAid found that much of the gold mined illegally in the region is trafficked through global supply chains.
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