Niger govt unaware of miners’ arrest before deaths in NSCDC custody — Bago

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, revealed that the state government was unaware of the arrest and detention of suspected illegal miners before their deaths in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). This came during an interview on Channels Television, where Bago addressed the unfortunate incident.

The arrests took place on September 15 and 16, with 67 suspected miners and 37 of them later dying in the NSCDC facility in Minna. The exact cause of the deaths is yet to be determined, with overcrowding and possible exposure to hazardous substances being among the factors under investigation. Bago stated that the government only learned of the arrests after the deaths and subsequent protests.

He expressed concern over the shift from farming to mining among some communities in the state, as well as the involvement of expatriates in mining operations within Niger. The federal government has initiated an independent investigation into the incident, with 24 NSCDC personnel connected to the event detained.