Nigeria: Protests erupt over deaths of 37 miners in custody

In central Nigeria, protests erupted overnight after the death of at least 33 miners in the custody of a paramilitary force. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had raided suspected illegal gold mines in the Wushishi-Lukoto area west of Minna on September 15-16. Reuters captured images of the 33 deceased detainees laid out in a hospital ward at General Hospital in Minna, the capital of Niger State.

Initially, the NSCDC attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, but later stated the cause of death remains undetermined and will be established through medical examinations.

Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo promptly suspended the NSCDC commandant of Niger State, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending a thorough investigation. The government expressed regret over the unfortunate incident, emphasizing that a full investigation would be conducted, and the commandant would remain suspended until the investigation concludes.

The unrest sparked by the miners' deaths prompted protests in Minna on Thursday night, with demonstrators chanting "Justice must be done." Some protesters resorted to damaging vehicles in their frustration. By Friday morning, the city had returned to a state of relative calm, but security forces remained heavily deployed across various parts of Minna.

Illegal mining has been a persistent issue in Nigeria for years, with authorities claiming that these unregulated operations harm the environment and result in significant revenue losses for the government. The unrest in Minna highlights the tension between efforts to curb illegal mining activities and the challenges faced by security forces in addressing the growing concerns of the affected communities.