The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has deployed a high-powered team of officials to Niger State to investigate the deaths of suspected illegal miners who died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Alake disclosed this in a statement on Friday while commiserating with the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the families of the deceased.
The minister said the team would investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ascertain the facts of the incident.
“It is with profound shock and deep sorrow that I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Mohammed Umaru Bago, and the entire people of the state over the tragic loss of lives among detained citizens in Minna,” Alake said.
He said the loss of lives was particularly painful and expressed sympathy with the families and communities affected by the incident.
“During this solemn period of state mourning, my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families and the communities bearing the weight of this grief,” he added.
The minister commended Bago for declaring a period of mourning and establishing an investigative framework to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Alake stressed the need for a transparent and independent inquiry, saying the investigation should establish accountability and help prevent a recurrence in detention and correctional facilities.
He said, “A thorough, transparent, and independent inquiry is vital to ensure accountability and prevent any recurrence of such distress in our detention and correctional facilities.”
The minister said the deaths involved persons who had reportedly been arrested on suspicion of illegal mining, adding that his ministry would work with other investigators to establish what happened.
“Given the allegation that the detained persons were arrested on suspicion of carrying out illegal mining, I have deployed a high-powered team of officials to Niger State to investigate the circumstances and ascertain the facts of the matter,” he said.
“The team will collaborate with other investigators to provide a comprehensive report on the incident.”
PUNCH Online had reported that the NSCDC launched an investigation after suspected illegal miners arrested during enforcement operations in Niger State died while in custody.
The suspects were arrested during coordinated operations conducted in the M.I. Wushishi/Lukoto axis on September 15 and 16, 2026, as part of efforts to curb illegal mining activities in the state.
Reports initially indicated that at least 33 of the detainees had died at an NSCDC facility in Minna, although subsequent reports put the number of fatalities at about 40. The NSCDC has not publicly established a final death toll.
The Niger State NSCDC Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, had attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak. However, the NSCDC national headquarters said the cause of death had not been established and that any claim linking the deaths to a particular disease remained subject to medical and laboratory confirmation.
The NSCDC Commandant General, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, subsequently directed a high-powered investigative team, led by the Deputy Commandant General in charge of Intelligence and Investigation, to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The inquiry is expected to cover the condition of the suspects when they were arrested, their period in custody, the conditions of detention and the medical attention provided to them.
Alake said his ministry’s investigation would complement other inquiries into the incident.
He concluded by praying for the families affected by the deaths.
“May the Almighty comfort the families affected and grant the souls of the departed eternal rest,” he said.
