The mystery surrounding the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State has deepened, with Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago revealing that some victims had blood and froth in their mouths and burns on their bodies.
Bago, however, cautioned against drawing conclusions on the cause of the deaths, saying investigations, including forensic and medical examinations, were underway to establish what happened.
According to the governor, possible causes being examined include suffocation resulting from overcrowding in the detention facility and exposure to hazardous chemicals associated with illegal mining.
“We just woke up to the news of the death; we don’t know what happened. Some of the victims were found with foam or blood in their mouths, which could be poisoning or suffocation. We are not sure,” Bago said.
He added: “Samples were taken from some of them before they were buried. There were burns on the bodies of some. We really don’t know what happened but investigation will unravel the truth.”
The deaths, which occurred after an NSCDC operation against suspected illegal mining activities in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna, triggered protests in the Niger State capital.
Protesters reportedly barricaded major roads, while security personnel were deployed to restore order. There were also allegations of the use of live ammunition during the demonstrations.
Following the unrest, the state government imposed a 24-hour curfew in parts of Minna after Friday’s Jumat prayers.
Bago also ordered the suspension of mining activities across the state and announced the closure of the mining site in the M.I. Wushishi area.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive, transparent and unhindered investigation into the deaths, stressing that suspected involvement in illegal mining does not remove the victims’ rights to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody.
The President directed investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the condition of the detainees when they were taken into custody, the detention conditions, the number of people held at the facility, medical attention provided and events leading to the deaths.
He also warned that any official found to have contributed to the deaths through abuse, negligence or dereliction of duty should face prosecution.
“The government must enforce the law firmly, but it must also obey the law. The sanctity of human life is non-negotiable,” Tinubu said.
As part of the response, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo has suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and other officers connected to the incident.
The Federal Government subsequently constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths and directed the suspension of officers involved pending the outcome of the inquiry. The committee has two weeks to submit its report.
The committee includes representatives of the Minna Emirate Council and Niger State Government, a former Assistant Inspector-General of Police, a professor of histopathology, a representative of the Miners Association of Nigeria, lawyer and human rights activist Deji Adeyanju, journalist Zainab Suleiman Okino and public affairs analyst George Agbakahi.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, also ordered a high-powered team from his ministry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and collaborate with other investigative bodies.
The tragedy has also drawn demands for independent autopsies and full disclosure of the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The African Democratic Congress called for independent autopsies, disclosure of the victims’ identities and detention records, compensation for their families and prosecution of any officials found responsible.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar similarly called for an independent, thorough and transparent investigation, saying the findings should be made public.
Human rights organisation Global Rights also demanded an investigation into allegations that security forces used live ammunition against protesters, while the Renevlyn Development Initiative called for immediate autopsies and publication of the findings.
The NSCDC had earlier said its personnel conducted enforcement operations in M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto Village on September 15 and 16 as part of efforts to curb illegal mining.
While initial reports attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, authorities have not established the actual cause of death. The ongoing independent investigation is expected to determine what happened and whether any official or other person bears responsibility.
