President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full and transparent investigation into the deaths of suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State.
The President directed that any official found to have contributed to the deaths through action, abuse or negligence should be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Tinubu, in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the reported deaths as a grave matter requiring urgent investigation and accountability.
He stressed that the fact that the deceased were suspected of illegal mining did not remove their fundamental rights to life, dignity and humane treatment while in government custody.
According to the President, enforcement agencies must carry out their duties within the limits of the law, adding that government would not tolerate deaths resulting from official negligence, abuse or dereliction of duty.
The President specifically directed investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the miners’ arrests, their condition when they were taken into custody, the number of detainees held at the facility, the conditions under which they were detained and the medical attention provided to them.
The investigation is also expected to establish what happened in the period immediately preceding the deaths and determine whether any official conduct contributed to the fatalities.
Tinubu further warned that the suspension of public officers involved in the incident should not be regarded as a substitute for determining possible criminal responsibility.
He said administrative measures could not replace a proper investigation where available evidence pointed to possible criminal liability.
The deaths occurred after suspected illegal miners were arrested during enforcement operations in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16, 2026.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, later disclosed that 67 artisanal and suspected illegal miners had been detained in an NSCDC facility, with 37 subsequently dying in custody. Authorities are conducting medical examinations, forensic investigations and autopsies to establish the precise cause of the deaths.
The circumstances surrounding the incident have generated public concern and protests in Minna, the Niger State capital. Governor Bago subsequently imposed a 24-hour curfew following unrest and reports of vandalism linked to the deaths.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, had earlier ordered the immediate suspension of the Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, pending a full investigation.
The NSCDC also constituted a high-powered investigative team to examine the condition of the detainees when they were arrested, their period in custody, the detention conditions and the medical care provided to them. The Corps initially cautioned against speculation over the cause of death, saying medical and laboratory examinations were necessary.
Meanwhile, survivors have given accounts alleging severe overcrowding and poor ventilation inside the detention facility. One survivor also alleged that a substance resembling perfume was sprayed into the cell shortly before detainees began collapsing. These accounts remain allegations and are among matters that investigators are expected to examine.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has also deployed a high-powered team to Niger State to investigate the incident and collaborate with other authorities conducting inquiries.
Tinubu directed the Ministry of Interior and the NSCDC leadership to cooperate fully with the investigation and ensure that no officer interferes with efforts to establish the facts.
The President also appealed for calm among the families and communities affected by the deaths, assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government would pursue the truth and take appropriate action based on credible evidence.
He maintained that the government must enforce the law firmly while also obeying the law and protecting the lives of people placed in its custody.
