Tension is reportedly mounting in Minna, Niger State, as grieving relatives of suspected illegal miners who died in Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) custody demand access to the remains of their loved ones for burial.
Reports indicate that distressed families, including mothers and other relatives, gathered at the NSCDC headquarters seeking information and demanding the release of the bodies. Security personnel were reportedly deployed around the facility as emotions ran high. A viral Facebook video showed sporadic gunshots against protesters at night. This situation draws attention to the Lekki Toll Gate massacre of #Endsars protesters in Lagos. It further exposed the resort of Nigeria police officers and other security architectures who easily pulled the trigger against the innocent civilians they are paid to protect.
The development follows the reported deaths of over 50 suspected illegal miners who were detained after enforcement operations against illegal mining in Minna on September 15 and 16. The NSCDC says the detainees died following a suspected disease outbreak, but the actual cause of death has yet to be established medically. The remains were deposited at General Hospital, Minna, for examination and autopsy. However a survivor Adamu Shehu had attributed the death to excessive heat suffocation and lack of ventilation in the NSCDC cell facility.
The situation has become particularly sensitive following survivor accounts alleging that detainees were exposed to extreme heat and inadequate ventilation inside the cell. Those allegations have not yet been independently established, but an intelligence report cited by AFP similarly raised concerns about overcrowding and poor ventilation.
The reported confrontation between grieving families and security personnel, including the allegation of sporadic gunshots, could not be independently verified from the reliable reports I found. It should therefore be treated as an allegation pending confirmation.
The Niger State Police Command has opened an investigation into the deaths, while the Federal Government has ordered the suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, pending a full investigation.
Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has also declared three days of mourning and constituted an inquiry into the deaths.
The immediate demand from the grieving families is straightforward: they want the bodies of their loved ones identified, released and returned home for burial.
Any investigation into the deaths must therefore also address the families’ right to timely information, proper identification of the deceased, access to autopsy findings and dignified release of remains once legally and medically cleared.
COPDEM has demanded an independent investigation, full autopsies and accountability for any official found responsible for negligence or abuse, while calling for immediate safeguards to prevent further deaths in custody.
Minna Death Toll Disputed as Reports Put Victims Above 50
The reported death toll among suspected illegal miners detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, has become a subject of growing concern, with survivors and relatives suggesting that more than 50 people may have died, even as the officially reported figure remains lower.
The NSCDC and state authorities have reported 37 deaths, while survivor Dauda Shehu said about 65 detainees were packed into the cell. He alleged that the detainees struggled for fresh air, repeatedly banged on the cell door and pleaded with officers for help, but their appeals were ignored.
Another survivor reportedly said those who escaped death were largely those positioned close to the entrance, where they could access comparatively better airflow and attract attention. The survivors’ accounts have not yet been independently verified, while the NSCDC says the actual cause of death remains subject to medical and laboratory examination.
The conflicting accounts make an independent determination of the actual number of detainees and fatalities critically important. Relatives have reportedly demanded access to the bodies and independent autopsies, while protests have followed the deaths in Minna.
COPDEM maintains that whether the final death toll is 37, above 50, or another figure established by forensic evidence, every death in government custody demands accountability.
The organisation is therefore demanding that authorities immediately publish the complete detention register, identify every person arrested, disclose the whereabouts of all survivors and deceased detainees, conduct independent autopsies and make the forensic findings public.
COPDEM is also demanding that all officers who were on duty at the detention facility be investigated, particularly those responsible for supervising the cell and responding to detainees’ alleged cries for help.
“The government must establish the truth with evidence. Nigerians cannot be expected to accept conflicting figures while grieving families are still searching for their children and relatives. Every detainee must be accounted for, every body must be identified, and every death must have an established cause,” COPDEM said.
The organisation further demanded immediate safeguards for detainees, including adequate ventilation, medically supervised detention, emergency response procedures, reasonable occupancy limits and independent monitoring of detention facilities.
The NSCDC has established an investigative team to examine the condition of the detainees upon arrest, their period in custody, detention conditions and medical care. Police have also opened an investigation.
