Families of the 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State have demanded justice and compensation, as an independent investigation into the deaths gets underway.
The miners died after they were arrested during enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Minna on September 15 and 16. The deaths occurred on September 17 while the suspects were in NSCDC custody. The number was initially reported as 33 before the Niger State Government confirmed that 37 people had died.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths have generated concern among the families, community members and civil society organisations, particularly because the victims were alive when they were taken into custody.
Relatives of the deceased have called for an investigation capable of establishing exactly what happened to their loved ones and determining whether any individual or institution bears responsibility.
The families have also rejected a N100,000 condolence payment reportedly offered by the Niger State Government, describing the amount as inadequate and insisting that what they want is justice and accountability rather than a token payment.
The controversy has intensified as questions remain over the cause of death. Authorities have not yet established the precise medical or forensic explanation for the deaths, with the Federal Government’s investigative committee specifically mandated to determine the cause and manner of death.
In response to the incident, the Federal Government constituted a 10-member Independent Investigative Committee following a directive from President Bola Tinubu. The committee was inaugurated by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on September 22.
Its mandate includes establishing the identities of the deceased, examining the circumstances surrounding their arrest and detention, determining the cause and manner of death through appropriate medical and forensic procedures, and investigating whether negligence, misconduct, complicity or any breach of duty occurred.
The committee is also expected to recommend disciplinary action, compensation where appropriate and measures to prevent a recurrence. It has been given two weeks to complete its assignment and submit its report.
The government has warned against any attempt to interfere with the investigation. The Minister of Interior directed relevant authorities to preserve records and material evidence connected to the incident and warned that anyone who destroys evidence, intimidates witnesses or obstructs the inquiry would face consequences.
The NSCDC has also said it will not shield anyone found culpable.
The Commandant General of the Corps, Ahmed Audi, said the organisation was cooperating with the investigative committee and that relevant personnel had been placed in protective custody to ensure their availability to investigators. He also pledged that justice and transparency would guide the Corps’ response.
Several civil society organisations have separately called for a transparent and independent investigation. The Constitutional and Democratic Justice Initiative recently urged the Federal Government to make the findings of the inquiry public, while other groups have demanded accountability for the deaths.
There have also been calls for investigators to examine circumstances beyond the detention facility, including the ownership and operation of the mining site where the victims were arrested. Civil society groups have argued that a comprehensive inquiry should establish who operated the site and whether there were failures in monitoring illegal mining activities.
For the grieving families, however, the immediate priority remains obtaining answers about how their relatives died and ensuring that those found responsible are held accountable.
The independent panel’s findings are therefore expected to be crucial in resolving the competing questions surrounding the incident. Until the investigation and any subsequent medical or forensic examination are concluded, the precise cause of the 37 deaths remains officially unresolved.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over the treatment of suspects in custody, enforcement of illegal mining laws and the need for accountability when people die while under the control of state security agencies.
