BREAKING: NSCDC Probes De@ths Of 33 Miners Arrested In Niger

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has ordered a thorough investigation into the deaths of several suspected illegal miners arrested during an enforcement operation in Niger State.

According to reports, 33 detainees were feared dead after they were arrested during a joint operation against illegal mining activities and taken to an NSCDC facility in Minna.

The suspects were reportedly apprehended on September 15 and 16, 2026, during an operation conducted around the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis of the state.

The deaths were discovered in the early hours of Thursday, September 17, according to the Niger State Command of the NSCDC.

The remains of the deceased were subsequently evacuated to the General Hospital in Minna, where medical examinations are expected to establish the actual cause of death.

In a statement issued by the Corps’ National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, the NSCDC Commandant General, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, cautioned against attributing the deaths to any specific disease before the completion of medical and laboratory examinations.

Audi consequently ordered the immediate constitution of a high-powered investigative team to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The team, headed by the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation, is expected to establish what happened before, during and after the suspects were taken into custody.

Investigators will examine the physical condition of the detainees at the time of their arrest, the duration of their detention, the conditions at the facility, medical attention provided to them and other factors that may have contributed to the deaths.

The NSCDC also said it was collaborating with health authorities and other security agencies to implement necessary medical and public-health measures.

The Corps directed that the health and welfare of suspects who remain in custody be given immediate attention, while personnel who may have had contact with the affected detainees are also protected.

The NSCDC stressed that conclusions regarding the incident would be based strictly on verified medical and investigative findings.

The Corps reaffirmed its commitment to tackling illegal mining while emphasising that law enforcement operations must be carried out with respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of people in custody.

Audi expressed condolences to the families of those who died and assured them that the circumstances surrounding the incident would be thoroughly investigated.

He also appealed for calm as the medical and investigative processes continue, promising that further information would be made public as verified facts emerge.