NSCDC Custody Tragedy: Identities Of 37 Dead Miners Emerge In Niger

The identities of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State have been released by the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

The victims were among scores of people arrested during anti-illegal mining operations conducted on September 15 and 16 around the Lt Gen Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Estate in Minna, the Niger State capital. The NSCDC had previously confirmed that 37 detainees died after being found unresponsive in custody, with authorities initially linking the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak. The circumstances surrounding the deaths are now the subject of an official investigation.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Awaisu Giwa, an international peace ambassador with the IHRC, said the organisation obtained an initial list of the deceased from records at the General Hospital, Minna. He explained that the names were supplied by a mortuary attendant following an instruction from the hospital’s Chief Medical Director.

Giwa said the commission was seeking an official version of the list printed on the hospital’s letterhead. He added that some relatives whose family members were missing had subsequently approached the commission, leading to the addition of four names to the list.

According to the IHRC representative, the list would also assist efforts to facilitate compensation for the families of those who died.

The 37 names released by the commission are Ibrahim Sani, Fahad Sa’adu, Abdulsalam Ismail, Usman Aliyu, Abubakar Alhaji, Sani Nasir, Sanusi Khalid, Ahmad Aliyu, Safiyanu Abdullahi, Suleiman Dantala, Idris Haruna, Sani Yakubu, Safiyanu Abubakar, Abdullahi Abubakar, Abubakar Musa, Abdul Mudassir, Suleiman Lawal, Usman Abdullahi, Samuel Sambo, Ibrahim Musa, Yusuf Nasiru, Umar Lawal, Isyaku Amisu, Bissallah Adamu, Abdulbari Suleiman, Shafisu Lado, Usman Ahmad, Usman Ibrahim, Sani Isyaku, Musa Ibrahim, Idris Bashir, Kabiru Suleiman and Emmanuel Emeka.

Four additional names — Mu’awiya AbdulKarim, Abdul Gafar Abubakar, Usman Haruna and Yaro Salihu Soba — were identified as not being included in the initial General Hospital list but were subsequently added after relatives contacted the commission.

The deaths have triggered widespread concern and prompted the Federal Government to constitute a 10-member independent committee to investigate what happened. The government has also suspended officers connected to the incident pending the outcome of the investigation.

The exact circumstances and cause of the deaths remain a matter for the ongoing investigation, and claims concerning how the detainees died should not be treated as established facts until the relevant authorities complete their inquiries.

The release of the names has also heightened calls for accountability and support for the affected families as authorities continue investigating the deaths in NSCDC custody.