37 Niger miners died of suffocation in NSCDC custody, investigative panel reveals
Thirty-seven suspected illegal miners died from asphyxiation while being held by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.. The post 37 Niger miners died of suffocation in NSCDC custody,…
The deaths of suspected illegal miners while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State sparked public outcry in September, prompting the federal government to set up an investigative panel to determine how the suspects died. The NSCDC is a paramilitary agency under Nigeria's Ministry of Interior, tasked with protecting critical infrastructure, enforcing environmental and extractive laws, and supporting crackdowns on illegal mining, a sector that has long been plagued by unregulated operations, smuggling, and clashes between security operatives and artisanal miners across mineral-rich states like Niger.
The panel's finding that the miners died from asphyxiation raises questions about the conditions under which they were detained and the conduct of NSCDC personnel involved. Sahara Reporters' initial report cited 33 deaths, while Tribune Online and Premium Times both report a toll of 37, with Premium Times adding that the conclusion followed autopsies and forensic investigations. None of the reports yet detail what led to the suffocation, whether anyone will face sanctions, or what recommendations the panel has made to prevent a recurrence.