{
  "id": 8267396,
  "title": "Niger mining tragedy: NSCDC officials sprayed unknown substance on miners – Survivor alleges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/niger-mining-tragedy-nscdc-officials-sprayed-unknown-substance-on",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T15:50:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/18/niger-mining-tragedy-nscdc-officials-sprayed-unknown-substance-on-miners-survivor-alleges/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A survivor of the illegal mining incident in Niger State has accused NSCDC officials of spraying an unidentified substance inside a cell where miners were detained. This allegation emerged during a visit by Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo to survivors held by the Department of State Services (DSS). The survivor recounted how 17 miners were confined to a small room before more were added, leading to overcrowding. Despite the heat and the room being too small for the growing number of detainees, officials continued to lock them in. After the substance was sprayed, several miners fell unconscious. The survivor claimed they were told to remain despite reports of people dying, but none of the officials intervened.",
  "summary": "A survivor of the tragic illegal mining incident in Niger State has alleged that some officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) sprayed an unknown substance inside a cell where miners were being held. The survivor made the allegation during a visit by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to some of […] Niger mining tragedy: NSCDC officials sprayed unknown…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Atiku demands accountability over deaths of suspected miners in NSCDC custody",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/atiku-demands-accountability-over-deaths-of-suspected-miners-in-nscdc",
        "published": "2026-09-18T12:00:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "“No Nigerian should lose right to life in custody” — Atiku on Niger deaths",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/no-nigerian-should-lose-right-to-life-in-custody-atiku-on-niger-deaths",
        "published": "2026-09-18T12:10:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Premium Times",
        "title": "Niger State imposes 24-hour curfew after suspects die in NSCDC custody",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/niger-state-imposes-24-hour-curfew-after-suspects-die-in-nscdc-custody",
        "published": "2026-09-18T13:59:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ripples Nigeria",
        "title": "Atiku demands justice for miners who died in NSCDC custody",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/atiku-demands-justice-for-miners-who-died-in-nscdc-custody",
        "published": "2026-09-18T14:27:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}