Tragedy As 33 Suspected Illegal Miners D!e In NSCDC Custody

At least 33 suspected illegal miners have reportedly died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, following an operation carried out against illegal mining activities in the state.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the incident was discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, 2026, after scores of suspected illegal miners arrested during an enforcement operation were found dead at an NSCDC detention facility in Minna.

The Niger State Commandant of the NSCDC, Suberu Aniviye, confirmed the deaths and said the detainees were believed to have died following a suspected disease outbreak. He explained that the command had conducted what it described as a “burst operation” on September 15 and 16 as part of efforts to tackle illegal mining activities across the state.

According to Aniviye, the operation resulted in the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of various exhibits. He said the situation became apparent when several of the detained suspects were found dead two days later.

The NSCDC commandant stated that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the General Hospital in Minna for medical examination to determine the actual cause of death.

However, a source at the hospital reportedly told The Punch that 33 detainees had died and were suspected to have been affected by diphtheria. The NSCDC has not independently confirmed the figure of 33 or established diphtheria as the cause of the deaths, maintaining that medical investigations are required to determine what happened.

The development reportedly triggered protests in parts of M.I. Wushishi and Mekunkle, where some residents were said to have relatives among those detained. The protests followed concerns over the deaths and the circumstances surrounding the detention of the suspected illegal miners.

Aniviye appealed to relatives of the deceased and members of the public to remain calm, urging them to avoid actions that could lead to a breakdown of law and order. He added that the NSCDC was working with other security agencies to manage the situation while investigations and medical examinations continue.