Thirty-seven individuals accused of participating in illegal mining operations have died while in custody at a detention facility in Niger State, Nigeria. The incident has triggered violent protests in the state capital, Minna, and prompted an immediate investigation by police authorities.
Initial reports from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) suggested the fatalities were caused by a diphtheria outbreak. However, the agency’s national headquarters later clarified that the exact cause of death remains undetermined and requires medical and laboratory confirmation.
Contrasting accounts have emerged regarding the conditions inside the facility. An intelligence report shared with AFP news agency indicated that the deaths resulted from overcrowding and inadequate ventilation, leading to suffocation. One father, Abdullahi Dalhatu, told the BBC that his son survived only because he was positioned near a small window. Dalhatu recounted that detainees began collapsing in the intense heat while others reportedly knocked on the cell doors for help without response. The BBC has not independently verified these personal testimonies.
The group was arrested on Tuesday during operations near Borgu, an area known for small-scale gold mining. Two days later, the 37 bodies were discovered inside the NSCDC-run detention centre. The paramilitary agency, which assists police with internal security and crime prevention, had initially stated that over 50 people were arrested in the operation, though none had yet been charged due to ongoing profiling and documentation.
Upon learning of the deaths, angry relatives and community members attacked public institutions and buses in Minna. Residents reported that protesters used stones and sticks before police dispersed the crowd with tear gas. In response to the unrest and the tragedy, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago described the events as “sad and tragic,” announced three days of mourning, and postponed the start of election campaigning scheduled for January.
Governor Bago also confirmed that an NSCDC commander has been detained in connection with the incident. Nigeria’s police chief, Wasiu Abiodun, ordered an immediate investigation into the deaths, stating that the bodies have been transferred to the general hospital in Minna for post-mortem examinations.
Questions have been raised about the plausibility of a disease outbreak given the health of the guards. One relative noted that their 17-year-old brother appeared healthy when visited prior to death, while another witness pointed out that the guards had not fallen ill. Under Nigeria’s constitution, detainees must be brought before a court within a reasonable time, typically within 48 hours, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Illegal gold mining in Niger State has been linked to increased criminal gang violence and the trafficking of gold through global supply chains, according to experts and a 2024 SwissAid report. As post-mortem results are awaited, families are calling for independent examinations to determine the true cause of the fatalities.
Thirty-seven lives lost while waiting for charging? This neglect is tragic and demands immediate independent investigations into custody conditions.
Overcrowding and suffocation seems more likely than a sudden diphtheria outbreak. The guards didn’t get sick, which is a huge red flag.