The deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State have led to investigations, protests, and a curfew in Minna. The detainees were arrested during enforcement operations around mining sites on September 15 and 16 before the deaths were discovered at an NSCDC facility. President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the incident, directing authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the arrests, detention conditions, medical attention provided, and the events that led to the deaths. The Niger State NSCDC commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, has been suspended pending the investigation, and the state government has constituted a committee of inquiry while forensic examinations, medical tests, and autopsies are being conducted. The cause of the deaths remains unconfirmed, with the NSCDC initially citing a suspected disease outbreak but later saying no specific cause had been identified.
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