NSCDC detains, parades 24 personnel over deaths of 37 illegal miners in Niger

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has detained 24 personnel, including the suspended Niger State Commandant, over the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State. The officers, who were paraded at the NSCDC headquarters in Abuja on Sunday, are under investigation and have been placed under protective custody since September 17.

The NSCDC has ordered its flag to be flown at half-mast for three days as a mark of mourning and to show disapproval of the incident. The Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has directed that due process, transparency, and accountability must guide the investigation. The NSCDC also linked the inclusion of DCC Ajayi Philips and DCC John Agrahau Chagwa to "lack of supervision" in their departments.

The 37 miners died after being arrested during anti-illegal mining operations carried out by the NSCDC in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Post Nigeria's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.