At least 37 suspected illegal miners die in Nigerian custody
By: Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent Thirty-seven individuals arrested on suspicion of illegal mining have died while in state custody in north-central Nigeria. The deaths occurred inside a detention facility run by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger state. Officials confirmed the fatalities prompted local protests, state mourning, and the suspension […]
At least 37 suspected illegal miners have died while detained by Nigerian authorities in a recent incident, prompting protests and a period of mourning. The deaths occurred at a facility operated by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps. Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger state condemned the events, announcing a three-day period of mourning and postponing political campaigning scheduled for January.
Police forces quickly dispersed angry crowds of miners and relatives who gathered to protest the deaths, using tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. An NSCDC commander has been detained, and a committee of inquiry has been established to investigate the incident. Initial reports suggested the deaths resulted from a disease outbreak, but authorities later clarified that further medical and laboratory confirmation is needed.
Some experts now believe the deaths may have been caused by overcrowding and poor ventilation in the detention center. Families of the detainees have criticized official narratives and called for independent post-mortem examinations. The arrests were part of a security operation targeting illegal mining activities in Niger state, where illegal mining remains a significant issue.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
