Thirty-three suspected illegal miners have died while in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, following an operation against unauthorised mining activities in the state.
The deaths were confirmed by the Niger State Command of the NSCDC on Thursday, September 17, 2026, after the suspects were detained following enforcement operations carried out on September 15 and 16.
According to the NSCDC, its Niger State Command conducted what it described as a “burst operation” around M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto Village as part of efforts to tackle illegal mining.
The operation resulted in the arrest of scores of suspected illegal miners and the recovery of various exhibits.
However, the command said some of those detained were found dead in the early hours of Thursday.
The State Commandant, Suberu Siyaka Aniviye, said the deaths were suspected to be linked to an outbreak of disease, but stressed that the actual cause had not been determined.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the General Hospital in Minna for medical examination.
The examination is expected to establish what caused the deaths and provide further information about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The NSCDC has not officially identified the suspected disease responsible for the deaths.
Its Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Rabiu, was reported by New Telegraph as putting the number of fatalities at 33 and saying the hospital had yet to determine the disease or cause of death.
The Corps said it was working with other security agencies to manage the situation and appealed to the families of the deceased and members of the public to remain calm.
The command also urged people to avoid actions that could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
It expressed condolences to the families of those who died and reiterated its commitment to protecting the lives and rights of people in its custody.
Reports emerging from Minna have contained different accounts of what may have happened inside the detention facility, including claims from some survivors and relatives about the conditions in which the suspects were held.
However, those accounts have not established the cause of death.
At the time of publication, the official position remains that the deaths are being investigated and that medical examinations are required to determine the cause.
The incident comes amid increased enforcement against illegal mining in Niger State, where authorities have previously reported confrontations between security personnel and people suspected of engaging in unauthorised mining.