33 arrested illegal miners die in NSCDC custody

At least 33 suspected illegal miners arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Niger State have allegedly died following a suspected disease outbreak.

The NSCDC Niger State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

It was gathered the deceased were among suspected illegal miners arrested during an operation conducted by the NSCDC in the state.

The NSCDC Niger State commandant said scores of suspected illegal miners arrested during an operation on September 15 and 16 at M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto village by the command have died due to suspected disease outbreak.

Aniyiye said the operation was carried out as part of the command’s renewed efforts to rid the state of illegal mining activities and resulted in the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and recovery of various exhibits.

However, the commandant stated that in the early hours of September 17, scores of the detained suspects were found dead.

The NSCDC said the corpses of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital, Minna, for further medical examination to establish the actual cause of death.

The command explained that it is working in synergy with sister security agencies to manage the situation and appealed to members of the public and families of the deceased to remain calm and desist from any actions capable of leading to a breakdown of law and order.

The NSCDC reaffirmed its commitment to the enforcement of human rights and international human rights charters while carrying out its mandate of protecting lives and property as well as critical national assets and infrastructure.