37 Miners Die in NSCDC Custody: Names Released as Families Demand Answers as Probe Deepens
Grief, anger and unanswered questions continue to trail the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
The victims, whose names have now been released, were among scores of suspected illegal miners arrested during anti-illegal mining operations conducted by the NSCDC around the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on September 15 and 16, 2026.
But what was supposed to be a security operation against illegal mining ended in tragedy after 37 detainees were found dead in the early hours of September 17.
The development has triggered public outrage, protests, official investigations and serious questions about what happened inside the detention facility.
Global Mirror News reports that the NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, saying the bodies had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for medical examination to determine the actual cause of death.
However, the explanation failed to calm public anger, particularly after reports emerged concerning the condition in which the detainees were being held.
Survivors have reportedly described an overcrowded detention cell where detainees struggled to breathe. Some survivors also alleged that an unidentified substance was sprayed inside the cell before several people began experiencing breathing difficulties and collapsing. These accounts remain subject to the ongoing investigation and have not been established as the official cause of death.
The tragedy became a flashpoint in Minna, with youths taking to the streets in protest. The demonstrations later resulted in clashes with security personnel, while authorities imposed restrictions to restore calm.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, confirmed that 37 people had died in NSCDC custody and described the incident as sad and tragic. He said forensic examinations, medical examinations and autopsies were being conducted to establish the scientific cause of the deaths.
Bago also disclosed that 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners had been taken into custody, with 37 subsequently dying.
The Governor further stated that the state government was not informed about the arrests and detention before the deaths occurred.
Tinubu orders investigation
The Federal Government has since moved to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered a comprehensive investigation, while the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the arrests, detention, identities of the deceased and the circumstances and causes of their deaths.
The committee has also been mandated to determine whether negligence, misconduct, complicity or other wrongdoing occurred and recommend appropriate action where necessary.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the committee has two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report.
The Niger State NSCDC Commandant and other officers connected to the incident have also been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
The Ministry of Interior released the names of 20 additional NSCDC officers suspended in connection with the incident, including personnel responsible for station guarding, investigations, arrests and detention duties.
The Federal Government has also warned against the destruction or concealment of evidence and directed relevant authorities to preserve all records and materials that could assist investigators.
Families left with grief and questions
For families of the deceased, the release of the names has brought a painful confirmation of what many had feared.
The men and boys whose names have now been published were taken into custody alive but never returned home.
The deaths have therefore shifted public attention beyond the issue of illegal mining to questions surrounding the treatment of detainees, the responsibility of security agencies and the need for transparency whenever people die while under government custody.
While authorities have not yet established the definitive cause of death publicly, the Federal Government’s independent investigation is expected to provide answers.
Full list of the 37 deceased
The victims identified as having died in NSCDC custody are:
- Ibrahim Sani
- Fahad Sa’adu
- Abdulsalam Ismail
- Usman Aliyu
- Abubakar Alhaji
- Sani Nasir
- Sanusi Khalid
- Ahmad Aliyu
- Safiyanu Abdullahi
- Suleiman Dantala
- Idris Haruna
- Sani Yakubu
- Safiyanu Abubakar
- Abdullahi Abubakar
- Abubakar Musa
- Abdul Mudassir
- Suleiman Lawal
- Usman Abdullahi
- Samuel Sambo
- Ibrahim Musa
- Yusuf Nasiru
- Umar Lawal
- Isyaku Amisu
- Bissallah Adamu
- Abdulbari Suleiman
- Shafisu Lado
- Usman Ahmad
- Usman Ibrahim
- Sani Isyaku
- Musa Ibrahim
- Idris Bashir
- Kabiru Suleiman
- Emmanuel Emeka
- Mu’awiya AbdulKarim
- Abdul Gafar Abubakar
- Usman Haruna
- Aro Salihu Soba
TheCable, Vanguard and other reports published the same list of 37 names, with some reports noting that four of the names were not included in an initial general hospital list.
Investigation now holds key to unanswered questions
As Nigerians await the findings of the independent committee, the central questions remain: What exactly happened inside the detention facility? What caused the sudden deaths? Were the detainees provided adequate ventilation, medical attention and safe detention conditions? And were there failures by officers responsible for their custody?
The answers are expected to come from the ongoing investigation rather than speculation.
For the families who have lost loved ones, however, the investigation is more than an official procedure. It is a search for the truth behind 37 deaths that occurred after their relatives were taken into government custody.
Global Mirror News will continue to monitor developments as the independent investigation progresses.
