WorldStage— The Niger State Police Command has launched an urgent investigation into the deaths of 37 people found dead while held in a detention facility run by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Niger State, following arrests tied to illegal gold mining operations.
Security operatives had arrested scores of young men—many of them teenagers—on Tuesday and Wednesday during crackdowns on unlicensed small-scale gold mining sites near Borgu.
The State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has declared three days of mourning and called the incident tragic.
The victims’ bodies have been transported to the general hospital in Minna for post-mortem examinations to verify the precise medical cause of death.
State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed that a formal inquiry is underway, and local sources report that the local NSCDC commander has been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation.
The mineral-rich region has faced severe regulatory pressure as authorities attempt to curb unlawful excavations that frequently fuel regional gang violence.
Within two days of their detention, 37 individuals were found dead inside the NSCDC holding unit.
The sudden loss of life prompted grief, local outrage, and protests outside medical facilities where bodies were transferred.
While the NSCDC initially attributed the mass fatalities to a suspected outbreak of disease, such as diphtheria, inside the crowded lockup, survivors and intelligence reports dispute this claim, pointing instead to extreme overcrowding and a critical lack of ventilation.
One survivor, Shehu, recounted being tightly packed into a cell with zero airflow. He described how detainees frantically banged on doors for help as they began to suffocate.
Families have expressed deep skepticism over how a fast-acting disease could wipe out dozens of detainees without affecting any of the facility guards.
The victims’ bodies were transported to the general hospital in Minna for post-mortem examinations to verify the precise medical cause of death.
