Dozens of Suspected Illegal Miners Die in Nigerian Custody

Thirty-seven individuals accused of illegal mining in north-central Nigeria have died while in the custody of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), local officials confirmed.

The NSCDC initially suggested an outbreak of diphtheria as the cause, but an intelligence report shared with AFP news agency and accounts from relatives of the detained suggest overcrowding and a lack of ventilation within the detention facility in Niger state led to their deaths.

"We believe they suffocated because there was no ventilation," the father of one detainee told the BBC. He recounted that his son, who survived near a small window, described detainees collapsing in the heat of the cramped cell. The father stated that detainees repeatedly signaled for help, but the door was not opened.

State governor Mohammed Umaru Bago described the deaths as "sad and tragic" and announced three days of mourning, postponing the start of election campaigning scheduled for January. An NSCDC commander has been detained in connection with the incident.

The group of young men was arrested on Tuesday for suspected illegal mining near Borgu, a region known for small-scale gold mining. They were found dead two days later in the detention center run by the NSCDC, a paramilitary agency tasked with protecting critical infrastructure and combating crimes like illegal mining.

The NSCDC spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, stated that illegal mining is prevalent in Niger state and that more than 50 people were arrested in an operation earlier this week. He indicated that the detainees had not yet been charged as profiling and documentation were ongoing prior to their deaths.

However, the NSCDC's national headquarters later issued a clarification stating that the cause of death had not been definitively established and would require medical and laboratory confirmation. "Reports attributing the deaths to any specific disease remain subject to medical and laboratory confirmation," the statement read.

Relatives reported visiting the NSCDC office seeking the release of their detained family members, only to be told to return later. One father told Nigerian media that his son appeared healthy the day before his death and called for an independent post-mortem examination. Another relative questioned how a disease could have killed so many detainees without affecting their guards, as their 17-year-old brother was among those who died.

The victims' bodies have been transferred to the general hospital in Minna for examination, and post-mortem results are anticipated to shed light on the circumstances of their deaths.

Niger's police chief has ordered an immediate investigation into the incident. Nigerian law requires individuals detained on suspicion of criminal offenses to be brought before a court within a reasonable time, generally within one or two days, unless a longer period is deemed reasonable.

Officials and experts have linked the demand for gold from illegal mines in Niger state to the fueling of criminal gang violence. A 2024 SwissAid report indicated that much of the gold extracted in the region is trafficked through global supply chains.