Nigeria: 37 suspects of illegal mining die in custody

The NSCDC command in Niger State reported that the arrests took place on September 15 and 16 in the localities of M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto. The detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17. The security agency mentioned a possible illness, but no medical cause has yet been established.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago confirmed the death toll of 37 and declared three days of mourning. The national command of the NSCDC has also ordered an investigation to examine the conditions of arrest and detention, as well as the medical care provided to the detainees.

The Niger State police have opened a separate investigation. A survivor, Dauda Shehu, told the Associated Press that the detainees were crowded in a poorly ventilated cell and had difficulty breathing. This testimony alone does not establish the cause of death.

The NSCDC stated that the bodies have been transferred to the General Hospital in Minna for medical examinations. Authorities have urged families and witnesses to cooperate with investigators as the circumstances surrounding the detainees’ deaths are examined.

The arrests were part of an operation targeting illegal mining in Niger State. The results of the examinations conducted in Minna are expected to help determine the medical cause of the 37 deaths.