Families of suspected illegal miners who died in Nigerian detention accuse officials of mistreatment
Lawan Mohammed is devastated by the death of his 25-year-old son, Sulieman, who died while in the custody of Nigerian security forces. Sulieman, a motorcycle mechanic, was arrested along with 36 other suspected illegal miners in the Nigerian state of Niger. The 67 detainees were found dead in a cell on Thursday, with 37 deaths likely caused by suffocation.
The NSCDC, the security agency responsible, initially blamed the deaths on a possible disease outbreak. An investigation is underway to determine the cause. The Nigerian government has formed a committee to investigate the deaths and has suspended 20 NSCDC personnel. Lawan Mohammed expressed deep grief, accusing security officials of mistreatment and demanding justice.
Similar cases of mistreatment have been reported, with the National Human Rights Commission receiving over 371,000 complaints of rights violations in 2025. Critics argue that even lawful arrests must ensure safe conditions and timely medical attention for detained suspects.
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