37 miners die in custody of NSCDC in Niger State

There was tension in Niger State, Nigeria on Thursday as residents took to the streets to protest the death of 37 detainees in the custody of a paramilitary force that had raided suspected illegal gold mines in the state.

About 33 bodies were deposited in a ward at the General Hospital in Minna, the capital of Niger State, on Thursday, after they were found dead in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). State authorities on Friday announced that 37 detainees had died.

The NSCDC said the detainees had been held in raids on suspected illegal mines on September 15 to 16 in the Wushishi-Lukoto area west of Minna. 

The force had initially stated that a suspected disease outbreak may have been involved in their deaths, but later said the cause of death had not been established and would be determined by medical examinations.

Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who visited the state ordered the immediate suspension of Niger State’s NSCDC commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending the outcome of a full investigation.

“It is an unfortunate incident, however, a full investigation will be conducted while the commandant under whose watch this happened remains suspended,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Officials had refused to allow relatives to deliver food to the detainees and demanded 100,000 naira ($75) for them to be freed, she said.

The mother of one of the detainees, Shafa’atu Suleiman, stated that she had visited her son Abdullahi in detention and found him in a cramped NSCDC cell, before later learning that he had died. 

“This is injustice. We will not forgive them.”

Anger over the deaths sparked protests in Minna on Thursday night, with youths chanting “Justice must be done”, according to residents. Some protesters also damaged vehicles.

Nigeria has tried for years to curb unauthorised mining at thousands of informal sites that operate across the country. The authorities say illegal mining damages the environment and leads to losses of government revenue.