46 years after Black Maria, Minna
This weekend was Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp’s [NSCDC] worst hour since the Oga at the Top saga nearly ten years ago, when its state commandant in [I think]
In a tragic turn of events, 37 young detainees died in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, Nigeria. This event marks the worst such tragedy in official custody since 1980, when 50 suspects suffocated in a police van. The NSCDC conducted a "burst operation" on September 15th and 16th, 2026, arresting suspects and recovering exhibits in its efforts to combat illegal mining activities.
However, 37 detainees were found dead the following day due to suspected disease outbreak or chemical exposure. The detainees were young men working in hot conditions on illegal mining sites, often in poor health, yet they died within hours of being taken to an NSCDC cell. The NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, dismissed the tragedy as an outbreak of disease, despite the detested conditions in which the detainees were held.
Written by urgent.news from This Day's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
