At least 33 illegal mining suspects found dead in Nigerian custody, and officials suspect disease

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least 33 individuals suspected of illegal mining have been discovered dead in Nigerian security custody on Thursday, according to officials. The cause of their deaths is suspected to be a disease outbreak in the region. The detainees were apprehended by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in north-central Niger state, where they had been held since the security agency conducted arrests on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The NSCDC's spokesman, Abubakar Muti, informed The Associated Press about the incident. The bodies of the deceased have been transferred to a local hospital for a comprehensive medical examination to determine the precise cause of their demise.