Nigeria: NSCDC commander suspended after deaths in custody

The decision comes after a night of protests in the state capital. According to Reuters, young people demanded justice on Thursday evening, leading to damage to vehicles before a significant security presence was deployed on Friday morning.

The death toll reported by the Niger State government stands at 37, a figure also cited by the Associated Press. Reuters, however, reports at least 33 fatalities. The deceased were among suspects arrested on September 15 and 16 during operations targeting illegal mining sites around Wushishi and Lukoto.

The local NSCDC command initially suggested a possible illness, but the national headquarters later clarified that no cause had been established prior to medical and laboratory examinations. A survivor quoted by the Associated Press described an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell, although this testimony does not currently clarify the cause of death.

The NSCDC has formed an investigative team to examine the condition of the suspects at the time of their arrest, the duration of their detention, the conditions of the cell, and the medical care provided. The Niger State police are conducting a separate investigation. The Interior Minister has requested that the commander remain suspended until the federal investigation concludes.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has declared three days of mourning and canceled a political rally scheduled for Saturday in Minna. The bodies have been transferred to the general hospital in Minna for examinations aimed at determining the medical cause of death.