Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu has questioned the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State.
Yesufu raised the concerns in a social media post following reports that the detainees died after being arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining activities in the state. She questioned how a large number of detainees could die while under government custody.
“How did you arrest young people mining and almost 40 die in your custody? How?!” Yesufu wrote.
She also referred to accounts from survivors that raised questions about the circumstances inside the detention facility. “From what survivors are recounting, it is not looking accidental!” she added.
The deaths have generated calls for an independent investigation, particularly because the exact cause of death has not yet been conclusively established. Earlier reports indicated that NSCDC officials suspected a disease outbreak, while a survivor told the Associated Press that detainees had been held in an overcrowded and poorly ventilated cell and struggled to breathe. The bodies were taken for medical examination and autopsies.
The Federal Government has since constituted a 10-member independent committee to investigate the deaths. According to the Interior Ministry, the panel will examine the arrests, detention conditions, cause and circumstances of the deaths, and determine whether there was negligence, misconduct or other responsibility.
The government has also suspended officers connected to the incident pending the outcome of the investigation. The committee has been given two weeks to complete its work and submit its report.
The development is significant because the victims died while in the custody of a government security agency, placing questions about detention conditions, accountability and the protection of detainees at the centre of public attention.
Illegal mining remains a major regulatory and security concern in Nigeria, with authorities continuing operations against unlicensed mining activities. The ongoing investigation is expected to provide clearer answers on what led to the deaths in Niger State.
