Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has revealed that 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners were detained in a Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps cell before 37 of them died in custody.
The miners were reportedly arrested during NSCDC operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
The deaths were discovered in the early hours of September 17.
The NSCDC initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak but later clarified that the actual cause had yet to be determined pending medical and laboratory examinations.
Speaking with journalists in Minna on Friday, Bago said investigators were examining several possible causes, including suffocation resulting from overcrowding and exposure to hazardous substances associated with mining activities.
According to the governor, the large number of detainees placed in the cell may have contributed to the deaths.
He said, “The first one is that the office of the Niger State Civil Defence arrested 67 artisans and illegal miners and put them in their cell.
“So probably they died of suffocation. Probably the second one is exposure to certain poisons or poisoning substances on the field.”
Bago said medical, forensic and biological experts had been deployed to collect samples from the scene and conduct examinations that would assist the committee investigating the incident.
He called for the autopsies and other forensic examinations to be expedited to determine the precise cause of death.
The governor also stressed the importance of enforcing responsible mining practices, including the use of protective equipment and continuous public awareness about the dangers associated with mining activities.
Bago described the death of 37 people as a serious incident that required a thorough investigation.
He said authorities must examine the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the conditions under which the miners were detained and the actions of the NSCDC personnel involved.
The governor further disclosed that experts had been deployed to investigate possible radiological exposure at the mining site.
Meanwhile, the NSCDC has maintained that the cause of the deaths has not been established, saying the bodies were taken for medical examinations.
The Federal Government has suspended the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, and ordered a full investigation into the incident.
Investigations by relevant authorities are ongoing to establish what led to the deaths and determine whether any individuals or agencies should be held responsible.
